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Simulating hydrodynamic interactions in colloidal suspensions using multiparticle collision dynamics with rigid-body
Michaela Bush1, Jeremy C Palmer2, Michael P Howard1
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA.
The Journal of Chemical Physics
|July 23, 2026
Summary
We developed a rigid-body simulation method for colloidal suspensions using multiparticle collision dynamics (MPCD). This approach significantly speeds up simulations of complex particle shapes compared to traditional methods.
Area of Science:
- Computational physics
- Soft matter physics
- Chemical engineering
Background:
- Colloidal suspensions are complex fluids with applications in various industries.
- Simulating these systems accurately requires efficient computational methods.
- Existing methods like multiparticle collision dynamics (MPCD) can be computationally intensive, especially for complex particle shapes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, computationally efficient method for simulating colloidal suspensions using MPCD.
- To incorporate rigid-body dynamics into MPCD simulations for discrete particles.
- To enable faster and more accurate simulations of complex-shaped colloidal particles.
Main Methods:
- Developed a discrete particle model representing rigid bodies.
- Implemented a method to thermalize discrete site velocities before MPCD collision.
- Transferred momentum from sites to the rigid body after MPCD collisions.
- Validated the model against single spherical particle statistics and hard-sphere suspension transport properties.
Main Results:
- The rigid-body model accurately reproduces expected particle statistics and transport properties.
- Achieved a nearly order of magnitude speedup in benchmark simulations compared to harmonic-bond models.
- The method demonstrates compatibility with arbitrary discretization for complex particle shapes.
Conclusions:
- The developed rigid-body MPCD method offers significant computational advantages.
- This approach enables more efficient simulations of colloidal suspensions, particularly those with complex particle geometries.
- The method has the potential to accelerate research and development in fields utilizing colloidal systems.
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