Overlapping grids for the simulation of particle interaction at the micro scale

Abstract

This paper describes the use of overlapping grids for the calculation of flow around single and multiple-particle configurations at the micro scale. The basic equations for calculation are those for conservation of mass and momentum which are solved using a common Finite-Volume formulation. The hydrodynamic particle-particle and particle-wall interaction can be calculated by using an overlapping or Chimera grid scheme. With the grid structuring procedure it is possible to use simple and structured grids around the particles and the overall main grid geometry. The particle grids are lapped over the main grid such that they can move independently after each time step without remeshing the whole geometry. The paper gives results for the validation of the code developed for general test cases, for a rotating ellipsoid in simple shear flow, the flow around particles attached to a wall, the motion of a particle in the vicinity of a wall and some results for the flow through a packed bed configuration.