Numerical research of the infinitely wide wedge flow based on the lattice Boltzmann method

Abstract

A new computational fluid dynamics method, the incompressible lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is utilized to simulate fluid flow of the infinitely wide wedge in this paper. Compared with the traditional method, LBM is a mesoscopic scale method and some characteristics can be described more clearly with LBM. In this article, three kinds of model .i.e. linear type, parabolic type and harmonic type wedge models are built. The streamline and velocity contour in the fluid field are described. The pressure distribution of different types wedge is studied in LBM. The results manifest that, for the same bottom boundary velocity, the parabolic type and harmonic type wedges are easy to form a vortex, and the load capacity in the harmonic type wedge model is the largest. This paper is ready to investigate the microscopic lubrication mechanism of journal bearing in the future.