Regularized lattice Boltzmann Multicomponent models for low Capillary and Reynolds microfluidics flows

We present a regularized version of the color gradient lattice Boltzmann (LB) scheme for the simulation of droplet formation in microfluidic devices of experimental relevance. The regularized version is shown to provide computationally efficient access to Capillary number regimes relevant to droplet generation via microfluidic devices, such as flow-focusers and the more recent microfluidic step emulsifier devices.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Entropic Lattice Boltzmann Method for Moving and Deforming Geometries in Three Dimensions

Entropic lattice Boltzmann methods have been developed to alleviate intrinsic stability issues of lattice Boltzmann models for under-resolved simulations. Its reliability in combination with moving objects was established for various laminar benchmark flows in two dimensions in our previous work Dorschner et al. [11] as well as for three dimensional one-way coupled simulations of engine-type geometries in Dorschner et al. [12] for flat moving walls. The present contribution aims to fully exploit the advantages of entropic lattice Boltzmann models in terms of stability and accuracy and extends the methodology to three-dimensional cases including two-way coupling between fluid and structure, turbulence and deformable meshes. To cover this wide range of applications, the classical benchmark of a sedimenting sphere is chosen first to validate the general two-way coupling algorithm. Increasing the complexity, we subsequently consider the simulation of a plunging SD7003 airfoil at a Reynolds number of Re = 40000 and finally, to access the model's performance for deforming meshes, we conduct a two-way coupled simulation of a self-propelled anguilliform swimmer. These simulations confirm the viability of the new fluid-structure interaction lattice Boltzmann algorithm to simulate flows of engineering relevance.Comment: submitted to Journal of Computational Physic

Aerodynamic and Aeroacoustic Numerical Investigation of Turbofan Engines using Lattice Boltzmann Methods

International audienceIn recent years, lattice Boltzmann methods showed promising advantages over standard Navier-Stokes equation-based solvers. In this work, the capacity to predict both self noise and interaction noise is evaluated. First, a rod-airfoil interaction case is investigated, where the turbulence wake of the rod impinges the leading edge of the airfoil. Thereafter, a semi-infinite ducted axial fan is studied, where the turbulent boundary layers on each blades generate self noise which propagates into the duct, and radiates to the far-field. Subsequently, a ducted grid simulation is performed to verify the properties of the grid-generated turbulence. Finally, the grid and the axial-fan are combined within the same configuration, which comprises both self-noise and interaction noise. For each configuration, the agreements with experiments are satisfactory, however, acoustic propagation issues have been encounters from the duct intake to the free field. Nevertheless, the implemented wall model at the solid boundaries seems to correctly predict the acoustic sources on the blades

Numerical study of wetting transitions on biomimetic surfaces using a lattice Boltzmann approach with large density ratio

The hydrophobicity of natural surfaces have drawn much attention of scientific communities in recent years. By mimicking natural surfaces, the manufactured biomimetic hydrophobic surfaces have been widely applied to green technologies such as self-cleaning surfaces. Although the theories for wetting and hydrophobicity have been developed, the mechanism of wetting transitions between heterogeneous wetting state and homogeneous wetting state is still not fully clarified. As understanding of wetting transitions is crucial for manufacturing a biomimetic superhydrophobic surface, more fundamental discussions in this area should be carried out. In the present work the wetting transitions are numerically studied using a phase field lattice Boltzmann approach with large density ratio, which should be helpful in understanding the mechanism of wetting transitions. The dynamic wetting transition processes between Cassie-Baxter state and Wenzel state are presented, and the energy barrier and the gravity effect on transition are discussed. It is found that the two wetting transition processes are irreversible for specific inherent contact angles and have different transition routes, the energy barrier exists on an ideally patterned surface and the gravity can be crucial to overcome the energy barrier and trigger the transition

A 8-neighbor model lattice Boltzmann method applied to mathematical-physical equations

© 2016. This version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/A lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) 9-bit model is presented to solve mathematical-physical equations, such as, Laplace equation, Poisson equation, Wave equation and Burgers equation. The 9-bit model has been verified by several test cases. Numerical simulations, including 1D and 2D cases, of each problem are shown respectively. Comparisons are made between numerical predictions and analytic solutions or available numerical results from previous researchers. It turned out that the 9-bit model is computationally effective and accurate for all different mathematical-physical equations studied. The main benefits of the new model proposed is that it is faster than the previous existing models and has a better accuracy.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Impact of hydraulic tortuosity on micro/nanoporous flow

Using the porous structures made up of homogeneously arranged solid obstacles, we examine the effects of rarefaction on the hydraulic tortuosity in the slip and early transition flow regimes via extended lattice Boltzmann method. We observed that modification in either the obstacle's arrangement or the porosity led to a power-law relation between the porosity-tortuosity. Along with this, we also found that in the slip flow regime, the exponent of this relation contains the effect of finite Knudsen number (Kn). In addition, we observed that on properly scaling Kn with porosity and hydraulic tortuosity, a generalized correlation can be obtained for apparent permeability