Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026

The Diffusion of Passive Tracers in Laminar Shear Flow
Published on: May 1, 2018
Multiple-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann scheme for homogeneous mixture flows with external force.
1Department of Energetics, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino, Italy.
A new lattice Boltzmann scheme accurately models homogeneous mixtures using a multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) formulation. This method recovers the Maxwell-Stefan diffusion model, crucial for understanding mixture behavior with external forces and tunable properties.
Area of Science:
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Chemical Engineering
- Statistical Mechanics
Background:
- Lattice Boltzmann methods are powerful tools for simulating complex fluid dynamics.
- Modeling homogeneous mixtures requires accurate representation of diffusion processes.
- Existing methods may lack flexibility in handling external forces or tunable diffusion parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel lattice Boltzmann scheme for homogeneous mixture modeling.
- To ensure the scheme fully recovers the Maxwell-Stefan diffusion model.
- To incorporate external forces and a tunable Schmidt number into the model.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) formulation.
- Basing the kinetic model on a Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook-type model for gas mixtures.
- Employing an innovative expansion technique based on the Grad moment system for macroscopic equations.
Main Results:
- The developed MRT scheme successfully recovers the Maxwell-Stefan diffusion model in the continuum limit.
- The scheme accommodates external forces and a tunable Schmidt number.
- Numerical simulations for a solvent test case provided insights into numerical ranges for transport coefficients.
Conclusions:
- The proposed lattice Boltzmann scheme offers a robust and flexible approach for homogeneous mixture modeling.
- The method extends the applicability of previous single-relaxation-time schemes.
- Numerical results highlight the importance of scale separation for theoretical accuracy.
Related Concept Videos
Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution: Problem Solving
This distribution function f(v) is defined by saying that the expected number N (v1,v2) of particles with speeds between v1 and v2 is given by
Laminar and Turbulent Flow
Navier–Stokes Equations
Steady, Laminar Flow in Circular Tubes
Steady, Laminar Flow Between Parallel Plates
Distribution of Molecular Speeds
