Simulating dynamics of ellipsoidal particles using lattice Boltzmann method

Area of Science:

• Soft Matter Physics
• Complex Fluids
• Computational Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Anisotropic particles are prevalent in soft matter and complex fluid systems.
• Accurate simulation of particle hydrodynamics is essential for understanding these systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement a coupled hydrodynamics simulation for solid ellipsoidal particles and surrounding fluid.
• To develop a stable and robust algorithm for updating particle position and orientation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the lattice Boltzmann method for fluid simulation.
• Implemented a link-based mechanism for solid-fluid boundary conditions.
• Developed an implicit method using quaternions for dynamic updates of ellipsoid position and orientation.

Main Results:

• Validated the algorithm through four distinct scenarios: translational velocity, inclined drift, rotational motion (Jeffrey's orbits), and microswimmer self-propulsion.
• Achieved good agreement between numerical results and analytical solutions across various fluid properties and geometric parameters.

Conclusions:

• The proposed algorithm demonstrates robustness and accuracy in simulating anisotropic particle hydrodynamics.
• This method provides a reliable tool for studying complex fluid systems involving ellipsoidal particles.