A lattice Boltzmann scheme for incompressible multiphase flow and its application in simulation of Rayleigh-Taylor instability

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1999 · Journal of Computational Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/jcph.1999.6257· OSTI ID:6423800

He, X; Chen, S; Zhang, R ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)

In this paper, the authors propose a new lattice Boltzmann scheme for simulation of multiphase flow in the nearly incompressible limit. The new scheme simulates fluid flows based on distribution functions. The interfacial dynamics, such as phase segregation and surface tension, are modeled by incorporating molecular interactions. The lattice Boltzmann equations are derived from the continuous Boltzmann equation with appropriate approximations suitable for incompressible flow. The numerical stability is improved by reducing the effect of numerical errors in calculation of molecular interactions. An index function is used to track interfaces between different phases. Simulations of the two-dimensional Rayleigh-Taylor instability yield satisfactory results. The interface thickness is maintained at 3--4 grid spacings throughout simulations without artificial reconstruction steps.

• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6423800
• Journal Information: Journal of Computational Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Computational Physics Vol. 152:2; ISSN JCTPAH; ISSN 0021-9991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661300 -- Other Aspects of Physical Science-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990200* -- Mathematics & Computers
BOLTZMANN EQUATION
EQUATIONS
FLUID FLOW
INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW
INSTABILITY
INTEGRO-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
KINETIC EQUATIONS
MULTIPHASE FLOW
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS