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Temperature-Controlled Assembly and Characterization of a Droplet Interface Bilayer
Published on: April 19, 2021
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Lattice Boltzmann simulations of multiple-droplet interaction dynamics
Wenchao Zhou1, Drew Loney1, Andrei G Fedorov2
1The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0405, USA.
Summary
A new lattice Boltzmann (LB) formulation accurately models droplet impingement dynamics, offering improved speed and accuracy over existing phase-field and LB methods for complex fluid interface phenomena.
Area of Science:
- Computational fluid dynamics
- Multiphase flow modeling
- Interfacial phenomena
Background:
- Modeling two-phase incompressible fluid flow and interface dynamics is crucial for understanding phenomena like droplet impingement.
- Existing lattice Boltzmann (LB) methods and phase-field models have limitations in accuracy and computational efficiency for these complex dynamics.
- Inconsistencies in relaxation time calculations and momentum conservation at boundaries have been noted in prior LB implementations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel lattice Boltzmann (LB) formulation consistent with the phase-field model for accurate simulation of droplet impingement.
- To address limitations in existing LB schemes regarding interfacial calculations and boundary condition treatments.
- To enhance computational efficiency and predictive accuracy for multiphase flow simulations.
Main Methods:
- Derived interparticle forces by comparing macroscopic transport equations from LB with continuous phase-field model governing equations.
- Introduced an approximation for relaxation time at the phase interface to ensure consistency with the phase-field model.
- Developed a modified LB scheme with a geometric wetting boundary condition for improved momentum conservation and contact angle enforcement.
Main Results:
- The proposed LB formulation demonstrates consistency with the phase-field model, improving interface dynamics modeling.
- The modified boundary conditions ensure momentum conservation and superior contact angle control compared to surface energy formulations.
- Simulations of droplet impingement show significant speed improvement and enhanced accuracy against experimental data and other models.
Conclusions:
- The developed LB formulation provides a computationally efficient and accurate method for simulating droplet impingement dynamics.
- This methodology successfully models complex interfacial phenomena, including multiple-droplet interactions.
- The approach offers a powerful tool for advancing the understanding and simulation of multiphase fluid dynamics.
