Simulation of moving particles in 3D with the Lattice Boltzmann method

Abstract

The following paper presents a way to simulate the behavior of particle agglomerates in a fluid flow by coupling the Lattice Boltzmann Method to a rigid body physics engine. By extending the basic algorithm by a fluid/particle force interaction method, the hydrodynamic forces acting on the particles can be calculated. By the use of this force interaction between the fluid and the particles and by the use of the rigid body physics engine, the movement and collision behavior of particles in a flow can be simulated. Additionally, this coupled simulation system is able to simulate the internal particle forces in the connections between sintered particles, which could break due to the forces and torques of a shear flow. This permits a prediction of possible break-ups or structural displacements.