Boundary conditions for lattice Boltzmann simulations

A heuristic interpretation of no-slip boundary conditions for lattice Boltzmann and lattice gas simulations is developed. An improvement is suggested which consists of including the wall nodes in the collision operation.     

Entropic lattice Boltzmann method for turbulent flow simulations: Boundary conditions

We introduce a new concept of boundary conditions for realization of the lattice Boltzmann simulations of turbulent flows. The key innovation is the use of a universal distribution function for particles, analogous to the Tamm–Mott-Smith solution for the shock wave in the classical Boltzmann kinetic equation. Turbulent channel flow simulations demonstrate that the new boundary enables accurate results even with severely under-resolved grids. Generalization to complex boundary is illustrated with an example of turbulent flow past a circular cylinder.     

A lattice Boltzmann equation for diffusion

The formulation of lattice gas automata (LGA) for given partial differential equations is not straightforward and still requires some sort of magic. Lattice Boltzmann equation (LBE) models are much more flexible than LGA because of the freedom in choosing equilibrium distributions with free parameters which can be set after a multiscale expansion according to certain requirements. Here a LBE is presented for diffusion in an arbitrary number of dimensions. The model is probably the simplest LBE which can be formulated. It is shown that the resulting algorithm with relaxation parameter =1 is identical to an explicit finite-difference (EFD) formulation at its stability limit. Underrelaxation (0<<1) allows stable integration beyond the stability limit of EFD. The time step of the explicit LBE integration is limited by accuracy and not by stability requirements.     

A lattice Boltzmann model for coupled diffusion

Diffusion coupling between different chemical components can have significant effects on the distribution of chemical species and can affect the physico-chemical properties of their supporting medium. The coupling can arise from local electric charge conservation for ions or from bound components forming compounds. We present a new lattice Boltzmann model to account for the diffusive coupling between different chemical species. In this model each coupling is added as an extra relaxation term in the collision operator. The model is tested on a simple diffusion problem with two coupled components and is in excellent agreement with the results obtained through a finite difference method. Our model is observed to be numerically very stable and unconditional stability is shown for a class of diffusion matrices. We further develop the model to account for advection and show an example of application to flow in porous media in two dimensions and an example of convection due to salinity differences. We show that our model with advection loses the unconditional stability, but offers a straight-forward approach to complicated two-dimensional advection and coupled diffusion problems.     

Advanced lattice Boltzmann scheme for high-Reynolds-number magneto-hydrodynamic flows

Is the lattice Boltzmann method suitable to investigate numerically high-Reynolds-number magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) flows? It is shown that a standard approach based on the Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (BGK) collision operator rapidly yields unstable simulations as the Reynolds number increases. In order to circumvent this limitation, it is here suggested to address the collision procedure in the space of central moments for the fluid dynamics. Therefore, an hybrid lattice Boltzmann scheme is introduced, which couples a central-moment scheme for the velocity with a BGK scheme for the space-and-time evolution of the magnetic field. This method outperforms the standard approach in terms of stability, allowing us to simulate high-Reynolds-number MHD flows with non-unitary Prandtl number while maintaining accuracy and physical consistency.     

Multi-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann front tracking method for two-phase flow with surface tension

<正>In this paper,an improved incompressible multi-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann-front tracking approach is proposed to simulate two-phase flow with a sharp interface,where the surface tension is implemented.The lattice Boltzmann method is used to simulate the incompressible flow with a stationary Eulerian grid,an additional moving Lagrangian grid is adopted to track explicitly the motion of the interface,and an indicator function is introduced to update the fluid properties accurately.The interface is represented by using a four-order Lagrange polynomial through fitting a set of discrete marker points,and then the surface tension is directly computed by using the normal vector and curvature of the interface.Two benchmark problems,including Laplace’s law for a stationary bubble and the dispersion relation of the capillary wave between two fluids are conducted for validation.Excellent agreement is obtained between the numerical simulations and the theoretical results in the two cases.     

Generalized Boltzmann equation for lattice gas automata

In this paper a theory is formulated that predicts velocity and spatial correlations between occupation numbers that occur in lattice gas automata violating semi-detailed balance. Starting from a coupled BBGKY hierarchy for then-particle distribution functions, cluster expansion techniques are used to derive approximate kinetic equations. In zeroth approximation the standard nonlnear Boltzmann equation is obtained; the next approximation yields the ring kinetic equation, similar to that for hard-sphere systems, describing the time evolution of pair correlations. The ring equation is solved to determine the (nonvanishing) pair correlation functions in equilibrium for two models that violate semidetailed balance. One is a model of interacting random walkers on a line, the other one is a two-dimensional fluid-type model on a triangular lattice. The numerical predictions agree very well with computer simulations.     

Multi-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann model for incompressible flow

In this Letter an incompressible MRT-LB model has been proposed. The equilibria in momentum space are derived from an earlier incompressible LBGK model by Guo et al. Through the Chapman–Enskog expansion the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations can be recovered without artificial compressible effects. The steady Poiseuille flow, the driven cavity flow and the double shear flow have been carried on by the incompressible MRT-LB model. The numerical simulation results agree well with the analytical solutions or the existing results. It is found that the incompressible MRT-LB model shows better numerical stability.     

多孔介质中流体流动及扩散的耦合格子Boltzmann模型

多孔介质中高Péclet数和大黏性比下混溶流体的流动和扩散广泛存在于二氧化碳驱油、化工生产等工业过程中.用数值方法对该问题进行研究时,关键在于如何正确描述高Péclet数和大黏性比下多孔介质内流体的行为.为此,提出了一种基于多松弛模型和格子动理模型的耦合格子Boltzmann模型.通过Chapman-Enskog分析,证明该模型能有效求解不可压Navier-Stokes方程和对流扩散方程.数值结果表明,该模型不仅具有二阶精度和良好的稳健性,而且对于高Péclet数和大黏性比的问题具有良好的数值稳定性,为模拟此类问题提供了有效工具.     

A simple enthalpy-based lattice Boltzmann scheme for complicated thermal systems

To extend the lattice Boltzmann (LB) method to describe the applicable energy systems, the first key step is to build a suitable thermal LB model and corresponding boundary treatments. There are two main shortcomings in the existing related works: either some additional energy source terms are inconvenient to be naturally incorporated or the implementation of non-Dirichlet-type thermal boundary conditions is extremely difficult and sometimes impossible in them for complicated thermal systems, which restrict their applicability to only a few special classes of problems. In order to overcome these drawbacks by a simple way, in this paper a thermal LB model and corresponding boundary treatments are constructed based on the total enthalpy. The specific benefits due to the introduction of the total enthalpy are analyzed and it is found that the numerical results obtained by the present scheme agree well with the analytical solutions and/or the data reported in previous studies.     

A fluctuating lattice Boltzmann scheme for the one-dimensional KPZ equation

Based on the well-known mapping between the Burgers equation with noise and the Kardar–Parisi–Zhang (KPZ) equation for fluctuating interfaces, we develop a fluctuating lattice Boltzmann (LB) scheme for growth phenomena, as described by the KPZ formalism. A very simple LB-KPZ scheme is demonstrated in 1+1 spacetime dimensions, and is shown to reproduce the scaling exponents characterizing the growth of one-dimensional fluctuating interfaces.     

The effect of surface roughness on rarefied gas flows by lattice Boltzmann method

This paper studies the roughness effect combining with effects of rarefaction and compressibility by a lattice Boltzmann model for rarefied gas flows at high Knudsen numbers. By discussing the effect of the tangential momentum accommodation coefficient on the rough boundary condition, the lattice Boltzmann simulations of nitrogen and helium flows are performed in a two-dimensional microchannel with rough boundaries. The surface roughness effects in the microchannel on the velocity field, the mass flow rate and the friction coefficient are studied and analysed. Numerical results for the two gases in micro scale show different characteristics from macroscopic flows and demonstrate the feasibility of the lattice Boltzmann model in rarefied gas dynamics.     

Computational modeling of MR flow imaging by the lattice Boltzmann method and Bloch equation

In this work, a computational model of magnetic resonance (MR) flow imaging is proposed. The first model component provides fluid dynamics maps by applying the lattice Boltzmann method. The second one uses the flow maps and couples MR imaging (MRI) modeling with a new magnetization transport algorithm based on the Eulerian coordinate approach. MRI modeling is based on the discrete time solution of the Bloch equation by analytical local magnetization transformations (exponential scaling and rotations).     

一种滑移区气体流动的格子Boltzmann曲边界处理新格式

针对滑移区复杂气-固边界存在速度滑移现象,提出了一种基于格子Boltzmann方法的非平衡态外推与有限差分相结合的曲边界处理新格式.该格式具有可考虑实际物理边界与网格线偏移量的优势,较传统half-way DBB(diffusive bounce-back)格式更能准确反映实际边界情况,同时还可获取壁面处气体宏观量及其法向梯度等信息.采用本文所提曲边界处理格式模拟分析了滑移区气体平直/倾斜微通道Poiseuille流、微圆柱绕流和同心微圆柱面旋转Couette流问题.研究结果表明,采用曲边界处理新格式所得结果与理论值以及文献结果符合良好,适用于滑移区气体流动的复杂边界处理,且比half-way DBB格式具有更高的精度,较修正DBB格式具有更好的适应性.     

Three-dimensional multi-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann front-tracking method for two-phase flow

We developed a three-dimensional multi-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann method for incompressible and immiscible two-phase flow by coupling with a front-tracking technique. The flow field was simulated by using an Eulerian grid, an adaptive unstructured triangular Lagrangian grid was applied to track explicitly the motion of the two-fluid interface, and an indicator function was introduced to update accurately the fluid properties. The surface tension was computed directly on a triangular Lagrangian grid, and then the surface tension was distributed to the background Eulerian grid. Three benchmarks of two-phase flow, including the Laplace law for a stationary drop, the oscillation of a three-dimensional ellipsoidal drop,and the drop deformation in a shear flow, were simulated to validate the present model.     

An improved bounce-back scheme for complex boundary conditions in lattice Boltzmann method

In recent years, the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) has been widely adopted to simulate various fluid systems, and the boundary treatment has been an active topic during the LBM development. In this paper, we present a novel approach to improve the bounce-back boundary treatment for moving surfaces with arbitrary configurations. We follow the framework originally proposed by Ladd [A.J.C. Ladd, Numerical simulations of particulate suspensions via a discretized Boltzman equation. Part 1. Theoretical foundation, Journal of Fluid Mechanics 271 (1994) 285–309]; however, the adjustment in the density distribution during the bouncing-back process at the boundary is calculated using the midpoint velocity inter-/extrapolated from the boundary and fluid velocities, instead of the real boundary velocity in the Ladd method. This modification ensures that the bouncing-back process and the density distribution adjustment both take place at a same location: the midpoint of a boundary lattice link, and thus removes the discrepancy of bouncing-back at the midpoint but density distribution adjustment at the boundary point in the original Ladd method. When compared with other existing boundary models, this method involves a simpler algorithm and exhibits a comparable or even better accuracy in describing flow field and flow-structure interaction, as demonstrated by several test simulations. Therefore, this boundary method could be considered as a competitive alternative for boundary treatment in LBM simulations, especially for particulate and porous flows with large fluid–solid interfacial areas.     

Multiple-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann model for the convection and anisotropic diffusion equation

A lattice Boltzmann model with a multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) collision operator for the convection–diffusion equation is presented. The model uses seven discrete velocities in three dimensions (D3Q7 model). The off-diagonal components of the relaxation-time matrix, which originate from the rotation of the principal axes, enable us to take into account full anisotropy of diffusion. An asymptotic analysis of the model equation with boundary rules for the Dirichlet and Neumann-type (specified flux) conditions is carried out to show that the model is first- and second-order accurate in time and space, respectively. The results of the analysis are verified by several numerical examples. It is also shown numerically that the error of the MRT model is less sensitive to the variation of the relaxation-time coefficients than that of the classical BGK model. In addition, an alternative treatment for the Neumann-type boundary condition that improves the accuracy on a curved boundary is presented along with a numerical example of a spherical boundary.     

Three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann method for simulating blood flow in aortic arch

The three-dimensional （3D） lattice Boltzmann models, 3DQ15, 3DQ19 and 3DQ27, under different wall boundary conditions and lattice resolutions have been investigated by simulating Poiseuille flow in a circular cylinder for a wide range of Reynolds numbers. The 3DQ19 model with improved Fillippova and Hanel （FH） curved boundary condition represents a good compromise between computational efficiency and reliability. Blood flow in an aortic arch is then simulated as a typical haemodynamic application. Axial and secondary fluid velocity and effective wall shear stress profiles in a 180° bend are obtained, and the results also demonstrate that the lattice Boltzmann method is suitable for simulating the flow in 3D large-curved vessels.     

On the theory of surface diffusion: kinetic versus lattice gas approach

The present paper extends the results of a recent analytic kinetic theory of particle-on-substrate diffusion. The approach treats explicitly the molecule–surface interaction and takes into account inter-molecular interaction within the hard particle approximation. The physics influencing the diffusion pre-exponential factor and mechanisms determining the density dependence of collective diffusivity are discussed. The kinetic results are compared with those of the traditional lattice gas hopping models. Analytical expressions for jump rates in the low density limit are derived, and the density dependence of effective jump rates at finite occupancy is discussed. It is shown how the traditional hopping model oversimplifies the picture of diffusion by neglecting the collision part of the hopping process.     

Accuracy analysis of high-order lattice Boltzmann models for rarefied gas flows

In this work, we have theoretically analyzed and numerically evaluated the accuracy of high-order lattice Boltzmann (LB) models for capturing non-equilibrium effects in rarefied gas flows. In the incompressible limit, the LB equation is shown to be able to reduce to the linearized Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (BGK) equation. Therefore, when the same Gauss–Hermite quadrature is used, LB method closely resembles the discrete velocity method (DVM). In addition, the order of Hermite expansion for the equilibrium distribution function is found not to be directly correlated with the approximation order in terms of the Knudsen number to the BGK equation for incompressible flows. Meanwhile, we have numerically evaluated the LB models for a standing-shear-wave problem, which is designed specifically for assessing model accuracy by excluding the influence of gas molecule/surface interactions at wall boundaries. The numerical simulation results confirm that the high-order terms in the discrete equilibrium distribution function play a negligible role in capturing non-equilibrium effect for low-speed flows. By contrast, appropriate Gauss–Hermite quadrature has the most significant effect on whether LB models can describe the essential flow physics of rarefied gas accurately. Our simulation results, where the effect of wall/gas interactions is excluded, can lead to conclusion on the LB modeling capability that the models with higher-order quadratures provide more accurate results. For the same order Gauss–Hermite quadrature, the exact abscissae will also modestly influence numerical accuracy. Using the same Gauss–Hermite quadrature, the numerical results of both LB and DVM methods are in excellent agreement for flows across a broad range of the Knudsen numbers, which confirms that the LB simulation is similar to the DVM process. Therefore, LB method can offer flexible models suitable for simulating continuum flows at the Navier–Stokes level and rarefied gas flows at the linearized Boltzmann model equation level.