104 research outputs found
Lagrangian filtered density function for LES-based stochastic modelling of turbulent dispersed flows
The Eulerian-Lagrangian approach based on Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) is one
of the most promising and viable numerical tools to study turbulent dispersed
flows when the computational cost of Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) becomes
too expensive. The applicability of this approach is however limited if the
effects of the Sub-Grid Scales (SGS) of the flow on particle dynamics are
neglected. In this paper, we propose to take these effects into account by
means of a Lagrangian stochastic SGS model for the equations of particle
motion. The model extends to particle-laden flows the velocity-filtered density
function method originally developed for reactive flows. The underlying
filtered density function is simulated through a Lagrangian Monte Carlo
procedure that solves for a set of Stochastic Differential Equations (SDEs)
along individual particle trajectories. The resulting model is tested for the
reference case of turbulent channel flow, using a hybrid algorithm in which the
fluid velocity field is provided by LES and then used to advance the SDEs in
time. The model consistency is assessed in the limit of particles with zero
inertia, when "duplicate fields" are available from both the Eulerian LES and
the Lagrangian tracking. Tests with inertial particles were performed to
examine the capability of the model to capture particle preferential
concentration and near-wall segregation. Upon comparison with DNS-based
statistics, our results show improved accuracy and considerably reduced errors
with respect to the case in which no SGS model is used in the equations of
particle motion
Lattice Boltzmann models for non-ideal fluids with arrested phase-separation
The effects of mid-range repulsion in Lattice Boltzmann models on the
coalescence/breakup behaviour of single-component, non-ideal fluids are
investigated. It is found that mid-range repulsive interactions allow the
formation of spray-like, multi-droplet configurations, with droplet size
directly related to the strength of the repulsive interaction. The simulations
show that just a tiny ten-percent of mid-range repulsive pseudo-energy can
boost the surface/volume ratio of the phase- separated fluid by nearly two
orders of magnitude. Drawing upon a formal analogy with magnetic Ising systems,
a pseudo-potential energy is defined, which is found to behave like a
quasi-conserved quantity for most of the time-evolution. This offers a useful
quantitative indicator of the stability of the various configurations, thus
helping the task of their interpretation and classification. The present
approach appears to be a promising tool for the computational modelling of
complex flow phenomena, such as atomization, spray formation and
micro-emulsions, break-up phenomena and possibly glassy-like systems as well.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figure
PDF model based on Langevin equation for polydispersed two-phase flows applied to a bluff-body gas-solid flow,
The aim of the paper is to discuss the main characteristics of a complete
theoretical and numerical model for turbulent polydispersed two-phase flows,
pointing out some specific issues. The theoretical details of the model have
already been presented [Minier and Peirano, Physics Reports, Vol. 352/1-3, 2001
]. Consequently, the present work is mainly focused on complementary aspects,
that are often overlooked and that require particular attention. In particular,
the following points are analysed : the necessity to add an extra term in the
equation for the velocity of the fluid seen in the case of twoway coupling, the
theoretical and numerical evaluations of particle averages and the fulfilment
of the particle mass-continuity constraint. The theoretical model is developed
within the PDF formalism. The important-physical choice of the state vector
variables is first discussed and the model is then expressed as a stochastic
differential equation (SDE) written in continuous time (Langevin equations) for
the velocity of the fluid seen. The interests and limitations of Langevin
equations, compared to the single-phase case, are reviewed. From the numerical
point of view, the model corresponds to an hybrid Eulerian/Lagrangian approach
where the fluid and particle phases are simulated by different methods.
Important aspects of the Monte Carlo particle/mesh numerical method are
emphasised. Finally, the complete model is validated and its performance is
assessed by simulating a bluff-body case with an important recirculation zone
and in which two-way coupling is noticeable.Comment: 23 pages, 10 figure
Hydrokinetic simulations of nanoscopic precursor films in rough channels
We report on simulations of capillary filling of high-wetting fluids in
nano-channels with and without obstacles. We use atomistic (molecular dynamics)
and hydrokinetic (lattice-Boltzmann) approaches which point out clear evidence
of the formation of thin precursor films, moving ahead of the main capillary
front. The dynamics of the precursor films is found to obey a square-root law
as the main capillary front, z^2(t) ~ t, although with a larger prefactor,
which we find to take the same value for the different geometries (2D-3D) under
inspection. The two methods show a quantitative agreement which indicates that
the formation and propagation of thin precursors can be handled at a
mesoscopic/hydrokinetic level. This can be considered as a validation of the
Lattice-Boltzmann (LB) method and opens the possibility of using hydrokinetic
methods to explore space-time scales and complex geometries of direct
experimental relevance. Then, LB approach is used to study the fluid behaviour
in a nano-channel when the precursor film encounters a square obstacle. A
complete parametric analysis is performed which suggests that thin-film
precursors may have an important influence on the efficiency of
nanochannel-coating strategies.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures; To be published on JSTAT: Journal of statistical
mechanics: Theory and experiment
Forecasting in the light of Big Data
Predicting the future state of a system has always been a natural motivation
for science and practical applications. Such a topic, beyond its obvious
technical and societal relevance, is also interesting from a conceptual point
of view. This owes to the fact that forecasting lends itself to two equally
radical, yet opposite methodologies. A reductionist one, based on the first
principles, and the naive inductivist one, based only on data. This latter view
has recently gained some attention in response to the availability of
unprecedented amounts of data and increasingly sophisticated algorithmic
analytic techniques. The purpose of this note is to assess critically the role
of big data in reshaping the key aspects of forecasting and in particular the
claim that bigger data leads to better predictions. Drawing on the
representative example of weather forecasts we argue that this is not generally
the case. We conclude by suggesting that a clever and context-dependent
compromise between modelling and quantitative analysis stands out as the best
forecasting strategy, as anticipated nearly a century ago by Richardson and von
Neumann
Mesoscopic lattice Boltzmann modeling of flowing soft systems
A mesoscopic multi-component lattice Boltzmann model with short-range
repulsion between different species and short/mid-ranged attractive/repulsive
interactions between like-molecules is introduced. The interplay between these
composite interactions gives rise to a rich configurational dynamics of the
density field, exhibiting many features of disordered liquid dispersions
(micro-emulsions) and soft-glassy materials, such as long-time relaxation due
to caging effects, anomalous enhanced viscosity, ageing effects under moderate
shear and flow above a critical shear rate.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Simulations of slip flow on nanobubble-laden surfaces
On microstructured hydrophobic surfaces, geometrical patterns may lead to the
appearance of a superhydrophobic state, where gas bubbles at the surface can
have a strong impact on the fluid flow along such surfaces. In particular, they
can strongly influence a detected slip at the surface. We present two-phase
lattice Boltzmann simulations of a flow over structured surfaces with attached
gas bubbles and demonstrate how the detected slip depends on the pattern
geometry, the bulk pressure, or the shear rate. Since a large slip leads to
reduced friction, our results allow to assist in the optimization of
microchannel flows for large throughput.Comment: 22 pages, 12 figure
Lattice Boltzmann simulations in microfluidics: probing the no-slip boundary condition in hydrophobic, rough, and surface nanobubble laden microchannels
In this contribution we review recent efforts on investigations of the effect
of (apparent) boundary slip by utilizing lattice Boltzmann simulations. We
demonstrate the applicability of the method to treat fundamental questions in
microfluidics by investigating fluid flow in hydrophobic and rough
microchannels as well as over surfaces covered by nano- or microscale gas
bubbles.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure
Steel and bone: Mesoscale modeling and middle-out strategies in physics and biology
Mesoscale modeling is often considered merely as a practical strategy used when information on lower-scale details is lacking, or when there is a need to make models cognitively or computationally tractable. Without dismissing the importance of practical constraints for modeling choices, we argue that mesoscale models should not just be considered as abbreviations or placeholders for more “complete” models. Because many systems exhibit different behaviors at various spatial and temporal scales, bottom-up approaches are almost always doomed to fail. Mesoscale models capture aspects of multi-scale systems that cannot be parameterized by simple averaging of lower-scale details. To understand the behavior of multi-scale systems, it is essential to identify mesoscale parameters that “code for” lower-scale details in a way that relate phenomena intermediate between microscopic and macroscopic features. We illustrate this point using examples of modeling of multi-scale systems in materials science (steel) and biology (bone), where identification of material parameters such as stiffness or strain is a central step. The examples illustrate important aspects of a so-called “middle-out” modeling strategy. Rather than attempting to model the system bottom-up, one starts at intermediate (mesoscopic) scales where systems exhibit behaviors distinct from those at the atomic and continuum scales. One then seeks to upscale and downscale to gain a more complete understanding of the multi-scale systems. The cases highlight how parameterization of lower-scale details not only enables tractable modeling but is also central to understanding functional and organizational features of multi-scale systems
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