Hydrodynamics beyond Navier-Stokes: exact solution to the lattice Boltzmann hierarchy

Particles on demand method: Theoretical analysis, simplification techniques, and model extensions

The particles on demand method [Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 130602 (2018)0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.121.130602] was recently formulated with a conservative finite-volume discretization and validated against challenging benchmarks. In this work, we focus on the properties of the reference frame transformation and its implications on the accuracy of the model. Based on these considerations, we propose strategies that simplify the scheme and generalize it to include a tunable Prandtl number via quasi-equilibrium relaxation. Finally, we adapt concepts from the multiscale semi-Lagrangian lattice Boltzmann formulation to the proposed framework, further improving the potential and the operating range of the kinetic model. Numerical simulations of high Mach compressible flows demonstrate excellent accuracy and stability of the model over a wide range of conditions.

Flow force calculation in the lattice Boltzmann method

We revisit force evaluation methodologies on rigid solid particles suspended in a viscous fluid that is simulated via the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). We point out the noncommutativity of streaming and collision operators in the force evaluation procedure due to the presence of a solid boundary, and provide a theoretical explanation for this observation. Based on this analysis, we propose a discrete force calculation scheme with enhanced accuracy. The proposed scheme is essentially a discrete version of the Reynolds transport theorem (RTT) in the context of a lattice Boltzmann formulation. Besides maintaining satisfactory levels of reliability and accuracy, the method also handles force evaluation on complex geometries in a simple and transparent way. We run benchmark simulations for flow past cylinder and NACA0012 airfoil (for Reynolds numbers ranging from 10^{2} to 0.5×10^{6}) and show that the current approach significantly reduces the grid size requirement for accurate force evaluation.

Linear and brute force stability of orthogonal moment multiple-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann methods applied to homogeneous isotropic turbulence

Multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) lattice Boltzmann methods (LBM) based on orthogonal moments exhibit lattice Mach number dependent instabilities in diffusive scaling. The present work renders an explicit formulation of stability sets for orthogonal moment MRT LBM. The stability sets are defined via the spectral radius of linearized amplification matrices of the MRT collision operator with variable relaxation frequencies. Numerical investigations are carried out for the three-dimensional Taylor-Green vortex benchmark at Reynolds number 1600. Extensive brute force computations of specific relaxation frequency ranges for the full test case are opposed to the von Neumann stability set prediction. Based on that, we prove numerically that a scan over the full wave space, including scaled mean flow variations, is required to draw conclusions on the overall stability of LBM in turbulent flow simulations. Furthermore, the von Neumann results show that a grid dependence is hardly possible to include in the notion of linear stability for LBM. Lastly, via brute force stability investigations based on empirical data from a total number of 22 696 simulations, the existence of a deterministic influence of the grid resolution is deduced. This article is part of the theme issue 'Progress in mesoscale methods for fluid dynamics simulation'.

Multiscale semi-Lagrangian lattice Boltzmann method

We present a multi-scale lattice Boltzmann scheme, which adaptively refines particles' velocity space. Different velocity sets of lower and higher order are consistently and efficiently coupled, allowing us to use the higher-order model only when and where needed. This includes regions of high Mach or high Knudsen numbers. The coupling procedure of discrete velocity sets consists of either a projection of the higher-order populations onto the lower-order lattice or lifting of the lower-order populations to the higher-order velocity space. Both lifting and projection are local operations, which enable a flexible adaptive velocity set. The proposed scheme is formulated for both a static and an optimal, co-moving reference frame, in the spirit of the recently introduced Particles on Demand method. The multi-scale scheme is validated with an advection of an athermal vortex and in a jet flow setup. The performance of the proposed scheme is further investigated in the shock structure problem and a high-Knudsen-number Couette flow, typical examples of highly non-equilibrium flows in which the order of the velocity set plays a decisive role. The results demonstrate that the proposed multi-scale scheme can operate accurately, with flexibility in terms of the underlying models and with reduced computational requirements.

Discrete Velocity Boltzmann Model for Quasi-Incompressible Hydrodynamics

In this paper, we consider the development of the two-dimensional discrete velocity Boltzmann model on a nine-velocity lattice. Compared to the conventional lattice Boltzmann approach for the present model, the collision rules for the interacting particles are formulated explicitly. The collisions are tailored in such a way that mass, momentum and energy are conserved and the H-theorem is fulfilled. By applying the Chapman–Enskog expansion, we show that the model recovers quasi-incompressible hydrodynamic equations for small Mach number limit and we derive the closed expression for the viscosity, depending on the collision cross-sections. In addition, the numerical implementation of the model with the on-lattice streaming and local collision step is proposed. As test problems, the shear wave decay and Taylor–Green vortex are considered, and a comparison of the numerical simulations with the analytical solutions is presented.

Lattice Boltzmann model for weakly compressible flows

We present an energy conserving lattice Boltzmann model based on a crystallographic lattice for simulation of weakly compressible flows. The theoretical requirements and the methodology to construct such a model are discussed. We demonstrate that the model recovers the isentropic sound speed in addition to the effects of viscous heating and heat flux dynamics. Several test cases for acoustics and thermal and thermoacoustic flows are simulated to show the accuracy of the proposed model.

High-order lattice-Boltzmann model for the Cahn-Hilliard equation

The Cahn-Hilliard equation (CHE) is widely used in modeling two-phase fluid flows, and it is critical to solve this equation accurately to track the interface between the two phases. In this paper, a high-order lattice Boltzmann equation model is developed for the CHE via the fourth-order Chapman-Enskog expansion. A truncation error analysis is performed, and the leading error term proportional to the Peclet number is identified. The results are further confirmed by the Maxwell iteration. With the inclusion of a correction term for eliminating the main error term, the proposed model is able to recover the CHE up to third order. The proposed model is tested by several benchmark problems. The results show that the present model is capable of tracking the interface with improved accuracy and stability in comparison with the second-order one.

Discrete Boltzmann trans-scale modeling of high-speed compressible flows

We present a general framework for constructing trans-scale discrete Boltzmann models (DBMs) for high-speed compressible flows ranging from continuum to transition regime. This is achieved by designing a higher-order discrete equilibrium distribution function that satisfies additional nonhydrodynamic kinetic moments. To characterize the thermodynamic nonequilibrium (TNE) effects and estimate the condition under which the DBMs at various levels should be used, two measures are presented: (i) the relative TNE strength, describing the relative strength of the (N+1)th order TNE effects to the Nth order one; (ii) the TNE discrepancy between DBM simulation and relevant theoretical analysis. Whether or not the higher-order TNE effects should be taken into account in the modeling and which level of DBM should be adopted is best described by the relative TNE intensity and/or the discrepancy rather than by the value of the Knudsen number. As a model example, a two-dimensional DBM with 26 discrete velocities at Burnett level is formulated, verified, and validated.

Gaseous microflow modeling using the Fokker-Planck equation

We present a comparative study of gaseous microflow systems using the recently introduced Fokker-Planck approach and other methods such as: direct simulation Monte Carlo, lattice Boltzmann, and variational solution of Boltzmann-BGK. We show that this Fokker-Plank approach performs efficiently at intermediate values of Knudsen number, a region where direct simulation Monte Carlo becomes expensive and lattice Boltzmann becomes inaccurate. We also investigate the effectiveness of a recently proposed Fokker-Planck model in simulations of heat transfer, as a function of relevant parameters such as the Prandtl, Knudsen numbers. Furthermore, we present simulation of shock wave as a function of Mach number in transonic regime. Our results suggest that the performance of the Fokker-Planck approach is superior to that of the other methods in transition regime for rarefied gas flow and transonic regime for shock wave.

Study of Gas Flow Characteristics in Tight Porous Media with a Microscale Lattice Boltzmann Model

To investigate the gas flow characteristics in tight porous media, a microscale lattice Boltzmann (LB) model with the regularization procedure is firstly adopted to simulate gas flow in three-dimensional (3D) digital rocks. A shale digital rock and a sandstone digital rock are reconstructed to study the effects of pressure, temperature and pore size on microscale gas flow. The simulation results show that because of the microscale effect in tight porous media, the apparent permeability is always higher than the intrinsic permeability, and with the decrease of pressure or pore size, or with the increase of temperature, the difference between apparent permeability and intrinsic permeability increases. In addition, the Knudsen numbers under different conditions are calculated and the results show that gas flow characteristics in the digital rocks under different Knudsen numbers are quite different. With the increase of Knudsen number, gas flow in the digital rocks becomes more uniform and the effect of heterogeneity of the porous media on gas flow decreases. Finally, two commonly used apparent permeability calculation models are evaluated by the simulation results and the Klinkenberg model shows better accuracy. In addition, a better proportionality factor in Klinkenberg model is proposed according to the simulation results.

High-order lattice Boltzmann models for wall-bounded flows at finite Knudsen numbers

We analyze a large number of high-order discrete velocity models for solving the Boltzmann-Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook equation for finite Knudsen number flows. Using the Chapman-Enskog formalism, we prove for isothermal flows a relation identifying the resolved flow regimes for low Mach numbers. Although high-order lattice Boltzmann models recover flow regimes beyond the Navier-Stokes level, we observe for several models significant deviations from reference results. We found this to be caused by their inability to recover the Maxwell boundary condition exactly. By using supplementary conditions for the gas-surface interaction it is shown how to systematically generate discrete velocity models of any order with the inherent ability to fulfill the diffuse Maxwell boundary condition accurately. Both high-order quadratures and an exact representation of the boundary condition turn out to be crucial for achieving reliable results. For Poiseuille flow, we can reproduce the mass flow and slip velocity up to the Knudsen number of 1. Moreover, for small Knudsen numbers, the Knudsen layer behavior is recovered.

Crystallographic Lattice Boltzmann Method

Current approaches to Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) are computationally quite expensive for most realistic scientific and engineering applications of Fluid Dynamics such as automobiles or atmospheric flows. The Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM), with its simplified kinetic descriptions, has emerged as an important tool for simulating hydrodynamics. In a heterogeneous computing environment, it is often preferred due to its flexibility and better parallel scaling. However, direct simulation of realistic applications, without the use of turbulence models, remains a distant dream even with highly efficient methods such as LBM. In LBM, a fictitious lattice with suitable isotropy in the velocity space is considered to recover Navier-Stokes hydrodynamics in macroscopic limit. The same lattice is mapped onto a cartesian grid for spatial discretization of the kinetic equation. In this paper, we present an inverted argument of the LBM, by making spatial discretization as the central theme. We argue that the optimal spatial discretization for LBM is a Body Centered Cubic (BCC) arrangement of grid points. We illustrate an order-of-magnitude gain in efficiency for LBM and thus a significant progress towards feasibility of DNS for realistic flows.

Lattice Boltzmann approach for complex nonequilibrium flows

We present a lattice Boltzmann realization of Grad's extended hydrodynamic approach to nonequilibrium flows. This is achieved by using higher-order isotropic lattices coupled with a higher-order regularization procedure. The method is assessed for flow across parallel plates and three-dimensional flows in porous media, showing excellent agreement of the mass flow with analytical and numerical solutions of the Boltzmann equation across the full range of Knudsen numbers, from the hydrodynamic regime to ballistic motion.

Entropic multirelaxation lattice Boltzmann models for turbulent flows

We present three-dimensional realizations of a class of lattice Boltzmann models introduced recently by the authors [I. V. Karlin, F. Bösch, and S. S. Chikatamarla, Phys. Rev. E 90, 031302(R) (2014)] and review the role of the entropic stabilizer. Both coarse- and fine-grid simulations are addressed for the Kida vortex flow benchmark. We show that the outstanding numerical stability and performance is independent of a particular choice of the moment representation for high-Reynolds-number flows. We report accurate results for low-order moments for homogeneous isotropic decaying turbulence and second-order grid convergence for most assessed statistical quantities. It is demonstrated that all the three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann realizations considered herein converge to the familiar lattice Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook model when the resolution is increased. Moreover, thanks to the dynamic nature of the entropic stabilizer, the present model features less compressibility effects and maintains correct energy and enstrophy dissipation. The explicit and efficient nature of the present lattice Boltzmann method renders it a promising candidate for both engineering and scientific purposes for highly turbulent flows.

Linearized lattice Boltzmann method for micro- and nanoscale flow and heat transfer

Ability to characterize the heat transfer in flowing gases is important for a wide range of applications involving micro- and nanoscale devices. Gas flows away from the continuum limit can be captured using the Boltzmann equation, whose analytical solution poses a formidable challenge. An efficient and accurate numerical simulation of the Boltzmann equation is thus highly desirable. In this article, the linearized Boltzmann Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook equation is used to develop a hierarchy of thermal lattice Boltzmann (LB) models based on half-space Gaussian-Hermite (GH) quadrature ranging from low to high algebraic precision, using double distribution functions. Simplified versions of the LB models in the continuum limit are also derived, and are shown to be consistent with existing thermal LB models for noncontinuum heat transfer reported in the literature. Accuracy of the proposed LB hierarchy is assessed by simulating thermal Couette flows for a wide range of Knudsen numbers. Effects of the underlying quadrature schemes (half-space GH vs full-space GH) and continuum-limit simplifications on computational accuracy are also elaborated. The numerical findings in this article provide direct evidence of improved computational capability of the proposed LB models for modeling noncontinuum flows and heat transfer at small length scales.

Fokker-Planck model of hydrodynamics

We present a phenomenological description of the hydrodynamics in terms of the Fokker-Planck (FP) equation for one-particle distribution function. Similar to the Boltzmann equation or the Bhatnager-Gross-Krook (BGK) model, this approach is thermodynamically consistent and has the H theorem. In this model, transport coefficients as well as the equation of state can be provided independently. This approach can be used as an alternate to BGK-based methods as well as the direct simulation Monte Carlo method for the gaseous flows.

Gibbs' principle for the lattice-kinetic theory of fluid dynamics

Gibbs' seminal prescription for constructing optimal states by maximizing the entropy under pertinent constraints is used to derive a lattice kinetic theory for the computation of high Reynolds number flows. The notion of modifying the viscosity to stabilize subgrid simulations is challenged in this kinetic framework. A lattice Boltzmann model for direct simulation of turbulent flows is presented without any need for tunable parameters and turbulent viscosity. Simulations at very high Reynolds numbers demonstrate a major extension of the operation range for fluid dynamics.

Lattice Boltzmann method for linear oscillatory noncontinuum flows

Oscillatory gas flows are commonly generated by micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems. Due to their small size and high operating frequencies, these devices often produce noncontinuum gas flows. Theoretical analysis of such flows requires solution of the unsteady Boltzmann equation, which can present a formidable challenge. In this article, we explore the applicability of the lattice Boltzmann (LB) method to such linear oscillatory noncontinuum flows; this method is derived from the linearized Boltzmann Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook (BGK) equation. We formulate four linearized LB models in the frequency domain, based on Gaussian-Hermite quadratures of different algebraic precision (AP). The performance of each model is assessed by comparison to high-accuracy numerical solutions to the linearized Boltzmann-BGK equation for oscillatory Couette flow. The numerical results demonstrate that high even-order LB models provide superior performance over the greatest noncontinuum range. Our results also highlight intrinsic deficiencies in the current LB framework, which is incapable of capturing noncontinuum behavior at high oscillation frequencies, regardless of quadrature AP and the Knudsen number.

Diffused bounce-back condition and refill algorithm for the lattice Boltzmann method

A solid-fluid boundary condition for the lattice Boltzmann (LB) method, which retains the simplicity of the bounce-back method and leads to positive definite populations similar to the diffusive boundary condition, is presented. As a refill algorithm, it is proposed that quasi-equilibrium distributions be used to model distributions at fluid nodes uncovered due to solid movement. The method is tested for flow past an impulsively started cylinder and demonstrates considerable enhancement in the accuracy of the unsteady force calculation at moderate and high Reynolds numbers. Furthermore, via simulations, we show that momentum exchange procedure used in LB to compute forces is not Galilean invariant. A modified momentum exchange procedure is proposed to reduce the errors due to violation of Galilean invariance.

Filter-matrix lattice Boltzmann model for microchannel gas flows

The lattice Boltzmann method has been shown to be successful for microscale gas flows, and it has attracted significant research interest. In this paper, the recently proposed filter-matrix lattice Boltzmann (FMLB) model is first applied to study the microchannel gas flows, in which a Bosanquet-type effective viscosity is used to capture the flow behaviors in the transition regime. A kinetic boundary condition, the combined bounce-back and specular-reflection scheme with the second-order slip scheme, is also designed for the FMLB model. By analyzing a unidirectional flow, the slip velocity and the discrete effects related to the boundary condition are derived within the FMLB model, and a revised scheme is presented to overcome such effects, which have also been validated through numerical simulations. To gain an accurate simulation in a wide range of Knudsen numbers, covering the slip and the entire transition flow regimes, a set of slip coefficients with an introduced fitting function is adopted in the revised second-order slip boundary condition. The periodic and pressure-driven microchannel flows have been investigated by the present model in this study. The numerical results, including the velocity profile and the mass flow rate, as well as the nonlinear pressure distribution along the channel, agree fairly well with the solutions of the linearized Boltzmann equation, the direct simulation Monte Carlo results, the experimental data, and the previous results of the multiple effective relaxation lattice Boltzmann model. Also, the present results of the velocity profile and the mass flow rate show that the present model with the fitting function can yield improved predictions for the microchannel gas flow with higher Knudsen numbers in the transition flow regime.

High-order thermal lattice Boltzmann models derived by means of Gauss quadrature in the spherical coordinate system

We use the spherical coordinate system in the momentum space and an appropriate discretization procedure to derive a hierarchy of lattice Boltzmann (LB) models with variable temperature. The separation of the integrals in the momentum space into angular and radial parts allows us to compute the moments of the equilibrium distribution function by means of Gauss-Legendre and Gauss-Laguerre quadratures, as well as to find the elements of the discrete momentum set for each LB model in the hierarchy. The capability of the high-order models in this hierarchy to capture specific effects in microfluidics is investigated through a computer simulation of Couette flow by using the Shakhov collision term to get the right value of the Prandtl number.

Higher order slip according to the linearized Boltzmann equation with general boundary conditions

In the present paper, we provide an analytical expression for the first- and second-order velocity slip coefficients by means of a variational technique that applies to the integrodifferential form of the Boltzmann equation based on the true linearized collision operator and the Cercignani-Lampis scattering kernel of the gas-surface interaction. The polynomial form of the Knudsen number obtained for the Poiseuille mass flow rate and the values of the velocity slip coefficients are analysed in the frame of potential applications of the lattice Boltzmann methods in simulations of microscale flows.

Accuracy of the lattice Boltzmann method for low-speed noncontinuum flows

Simulation of noncontinuum gas flows presents tremendous challenges, especially for nanoscale devices that usually exhibit low speeds and isothermal conditions. Such simulations are often achieved through use of the Boltzmann Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook equation, which forms the foundation for the lattice Boltzmann (LB) method. Accuracy of the LB method in noncontinuum flows is widely assumed to depend on the order of quadrature used. Here, we study noncontinuum Couette flow and discover that interaction of the lattice with the solid boundaries is the dominant mechanism controlling accuracy--quadrature order plays a comparatively minor role. This suggests the applicability of low-order quadrature in LB simulation of wall bounded isothermal noncontinuum flows, and leads to a framework and rationale for accurate implementation of LB models in noncontinuum flows.

Multiscale lattice Boltzmann approach to modeling gas flows

For multiscale gas flows, the kinetic-continuum hybrid method is usually used to balance the computational accuracy and efficiency. However, the kinetic-continuum coupling is not straightforward since the coupled methods are based on different theoretical frameworks. In particular, it is not easy to recover the nonequilibrium information required by the kinetic method, which is lost by the continuum model at the coupling interface. Therefore, we present a multiscale lattice Boltzmann (LB) method that deploys high-order LB models in highly rarefied flow regions and low-order ones in less rarefied regions. Since this multiscale approach is based on the same theoretical framework, the coupling precess becomes simple. The nonequilibrium information will not be lost at the interface as low-order LB models can also retain this information. The simulation results confirm that the present method can achieve modeling accuracy with reduced computational cost.

Gauss-Hermite quadratures and accuracy of lattice Boltzmann models for nonequilibrium gas flows

Recently, kinetic theory-based lattice Boltzmann (LB) models have been developed to model nonequilibrium gas flows. Depending on the order of quadratures, a hierarchy of LB models can be constructed which we have previously shown to capture rarefaction effects in the standing-shear wave problems. Here, we further examine the capability of high-order LB models in modeling nonequilibrium flows considering gas and surface interactions and their effect on the bulk flow. The Maxwellian gas and surface interaction model, which has been commonly used in other kinetic methods including the direct simulation Monte Carlo method, is used in the LB simulations. In general, the LB models with high-order Gauss-Hermite quadratures can capture flow characteristics in the Knudsen layer and higher order quadratures give more accurate prediction. However, for the Gauss-Hermite quadratures, the present simulation results show that the LB models with the quadratures obtained from the even-order Hermite polynomials perform significantly better than those from the odd-order polynomials. This may be attributed to the zero-velocity component in the odd-order discrete set, which does not participate in wall and gas collisions, and thus underestimates the wall effect.

Volumetric formulation for a class of kinetic models with energy conservation

We analyze a volumetric formulation of lattice Boltzmann for compressible thermal fluid flows. The velocity set is chosen with the desired accuracy, based on the Gauss-Hermite quadrature procedure, and tested against controlled problems in bounded and unbounded fluids. The method allows the simulation of thermohydrodyamical problems without the need to preserve the exact space-filling nature of the velocity set, but still ensuring the exact conservation laws for density, momentum, and energy. Issues related to boundary condition problems and improvements based on grid refinement are also investigated.

Higher-order Galilean-invariant lattice Boltzmann model for microflows: single-component gas

We introduce a scheme which gives rise to additional degree of freedom for the same number of discrete velocities in the context of the lattice Boltzmann model. We show that an off-lattice D3Q27 model exists with correct equilibrium to recover Galilean-invariant form of Navier-Stokes equation (without any cubic error). In the first part of this work, we show that the present model can capture two important features of the microflow in a single component gas: Knudsen boundary layer and Knudsen Paradox. Finally, we present numerical results corresponding to Couette flow for two representative Knudsen numbers. We show that the off-lattice D3Q27 model exhibits better accuracy as compared to more widely used on-lattice D3Q19 or D3Q27 model. Finally, our construction of discrete velocity model shows that there is no contradiction between entropic construction and quadrature-based procedure for the construction of the lattice Boltzmann model.

General solution of lattices for Cartesian lattice Bhatanagar-Gross-Krook models

We give the general solutions of lattices, i.e., velocity sets and weights, for the lattice Bhatanagar-Gross-Krook (LBGK) models on two- and three-dimensional Cartesian grids. The solutions define the necessary and sufficient conditions so that the resulting LBGK model can accurately capture the dynamics of the moments retained in the distribution function. In the parameter space of the weights, the general solutions form low-dimensional linear spaces from which minimal velocity sets are identified for the degrees of precision that are most relevant to the construction of high-order LBGK models. All well-known LBGK lattices are found to be special cases of the given general solutions.

Lattices for the lattice Boltzmann method

A recently introduced theory of higher-order lattice Boltzmann models [Chikatamarla and Karlin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 190601 (2006)] is elaborated in detail. A general theory of the construction of lattice Boltzmann models as an approximation to the Boltzmann equation is presented. New lattices are found in all three dimensions and are classified according to their accuracy (degree of approximation of the Boltzmann equation). The numerical stability of these lattices is argued based on the entropy principle. The efficiency and accuracy of many new lattices are demonstrated via simulations in all three dimensions.

Lattice Boltzmann equation for microscale gas flows of binary mixtures

Modeling and simulating gas flows in and around microdevices are a challenging task in both science and engineering. In practical applications, a gas is usually a mixture made of different components. In this paper we propose a lattice Boltzmann equation (LBE) model for microscale flows of a binary mixture based on a recently developed LBE model for continuum mixtures [P. Asinari and L.-S. Luo, J. Comput. Phys. 227, 3878 (2008)]. A consistent boundary condition for gas-solid interactions is proposed and analyzed. The LBE is validated and compared with theoretical results or other reported data. The results show that the model can serve as a potential method for flows of binary mixture in the microscale.

Lattice Boltzmann modeling of multicomponent diffusion in narrow channels

We investigate lattice Boltzmann (LB) modeling of multicomponent diffusion for finite Knudsen numbers. Analytic solutions for binary diffusion in narrow channels, where both molecular and Knudsen diffusion are of importance, are obtained for the standard and higher-order LB methods and validated against the results from the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. The LB methods are shown to reproduce the diffusion slip phenomena. In the DSMC method, while fluid particles are diffusely reflected on a wall, significant component slip and a kinetic boundary layer are observed. It is shown that a higher-order LB method accurately captures the characteristics observed in the DSMC method.

Lattice Boltzmann simulation of catalytic reactions

A lattice Boltzmann model is developed to simulate finite-rate catalytic surface chemistry. Diffusive wall boundary conditions are established to account for catalytic reactions in multicomponent mixtures. Implementation of wall boundary conditions with chemical reactions is based on a general second-order accurate interpolation scheme. Results of lattice Boltzmann simulations for a four-component mixture with a global catalytic methane oxidation reaction in a straight channel are in excellent agreement with a finite volume Navier-Stokes solver in terms of both the flow field and species concentrations.

Analytic solution for a higher-order lattice Boltzmann method: slip velocity and Knudsen layer

We present the analysis of a higher-order lattice Boltzmann (LB) method based on the fourth-order Gauss-Hermite quadrature, with emphasis on the slip velocity and the Knudsen layer. The exact solution of the slip velocity for the higher-order LB equation is obtained for Poiseuille flows with finite Knudsen numbers. Due to increased accuracy in velocity space discretization, the higher-order scheme gives much improved slip coefficients as compared with the standard LB method based on the third-order Gauss-Hermite quadrature. A multiple relaxation time model is investigated to show the effects of the relaxation times for higher-order moments on the slip phenomena.

Hydrodynamics beyond Navier-Stokes: the slip flow model

Recently, analytical solutions for the nonlinear Couette flow demonstrated the relevance of the lattice Boltzmann (LB) models to hydrodynamics beyond the continuum limit [S. Ansumali, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 124502 (2007)]. In this paper, we present a systematic study of the simplest LB kinetic equation-the nine-bit model in two dimensions--in order to quantify it as a slip flow approximation. Details of the aforementioned analytical solution are presented, and results are extended to include a general shear- and force-driven unidirectional flow in confined geometry. Exact solutions for the velocity, as well as for pertinent higher-order moments of the distribution functions, are obtained in both Couette and Poiseuille steady-state flows for all values of rarefaction parameter (Knudsen number). Results are compared with the slip flow solution by Cercignani, and a good quantitative agreement is found for both flow situations. Thus, the standard nine-bit LB model is characterized as a valid and self-consistent slip flow model for simulations beyond the Navier-Stokes approximation.

Exact linear hydrodynamics from the Boltzmann equation

Exact (to all orders in Knudsen number) equations of linear hydrodynamics are derived from the Boltzmann kinetic equation with the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook collision integral. The exact hydrodynamic equations are cast in a form which allows us to immediately prove their hyperbolicity, stability, and existence of an H theorem.

Lattice Boltzmann models for nonequilibrium gas flows

Due to its computational efficiency, the kinetic-based lattice Boltzmann method has recently been used to model nonequilibrium gas dynamics. With appropriate boundary conditions, lattice Boltzmann models have been able to capture both velocity slip and temperature jump at a solid surface. To enable these models to simulate flows in the transition regime, both high-order and modified lattice Boltzmann models have been proposed. In this paper, we demonstrate the advantages of the standard lattice Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook model in predicting high-order rarefaction phenomenon. In addition, we show that current high-order lattice Boltzmann models are not yet able to capture the nonlinear constitutive relation for the stress in the Knudsen layer, despite the improved predictions of the wall slip-velocity, especially for Poiseuille flow. By considering how the wall affects the gas mean free path, we present a simplified high-order lattice Boltzmann model that can predict flow in the transition regime and is also able to capture the essential characteristics of the Knudsen layer.

Multispeed models in off-lattice Boltzmann simulations

The lattice Boltzmann method is a highly promising approach to the simulation of complex flows. Here, we realize recently proposed multispeed lattice Boltzmann models [S. Chikatamarla, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97 190601 (2006)] by exploiting the flexibility offered by off-lattice Boltzmann methods. The approach is based on the general characteristic-based algorithm for off-lattice Boltzmann simulations that preserves all appealing properties of the standard lattice Boltzmann method while extending the method to unstructured grids. We show that the use of multispeed models indeed gives rise to major improvements in accuracy. The suggested approach thus renders truly large-scale off-lattice Boltzmann computations practical.

Slip velocity and Knudsen layer in the lattice Boltzmann method for microscale flows

We present mesoscopic fluid-wall interaction models for lattice Boltzmann (LB) model simulations of microscale flows. The exact solution of the slip velocity for the LB equation with the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook collision operator is obtained for Poiseuille flow at finite Knudsen numbers. With a consistent definition of the Knudsen number, the slip coefficients of the LB equation with the standard D2Q9 scheme are found to be slightly larger than those of the Boltzmann equation with the same boundary condition, which makes the standard LB method remain quantitatively accurate only for small Knudsen numbers. By modifying the nonequilibrium energy flux or introducing the effective relaxation time, the LB method is analytically shown to reproduce the slip phenomena up to second order in the Knudsen number. For the standard LB method, the Knudsen layer is captured only with modification of the relaxation dynamics such as in the effective relaxation time model.

Discrete effects on boundary conditions for the lattice Boltzmann equation in simulating microscale gas flows

The lattice Boltzmann equation (LBE) has shown its promise in the simulation of microscale gas flows. One of the critical issues with this advanced method is to specify suitable slip boundary conditions to ensure simulation accuracy. In this paper we study two widely used kinetic boundary conditions in the LBE: the combination of the bounce-back and specular-reflection scheme and the discrete Maxwell's scheme. We show that (i) both schemes are virtually equivalent in principle, and (ii) there exist discrete effects in both schemes. A strategy is then proposed to adjust the parameters in the two kinetic boundary conditions such that an accurate slip boundary condition can be implemented. The numerical results demonstrate that the corrected boundary conditions are robust and reliable.

Lattice Boltzmann model for the simulation of multicomponent mixtures

A lattice Boltzmann (LB) model for the simulation of realistic multicomponent mixtures is constructed. In the hydrodynamic limit, the LB model recovers the equations of continuum mechanics within the mixture-averaged diffusion approximation. The present implementation can be used to simulate realistic mixtures with arbitrary Schmidt numbers and molecular masses of the species. The model is applied to the mixing of two opposed jets of different concentrations and the results are in excellent agreement with a continuum model. An application to the simulation of mixtures in microflows is also presented. Results compare well with existing kinetic theory predictions of the slip coefficient for mixtures in a Couette flow.

Renormalization of the lattice Boltzmann hierarchy

Is it possible to solve Boltzmann-type kinetic equations using only a small number of particle velocities? We introduce a technique of solving kinetic equations with a (arbitrarily) large number of particle velocities using only a lattice Boltzmann method on standard, low-symmetry lattices. The renormalized kinetic equation is validated with an exact solution of the planar Couette flow at moderate Knudsen numbers.

H theorem, regularization, and boundary conditions for linearized 13 moment equations

An H theorem for the linearized Grad 13 moment equations leads to regularizing constitutive equations for higher fluxes and to a complete set of boundary conditions. Solutions for Couette and Poiseuille flows show good agreement with direct simulation Monte Carlo calculations. The Knudsen minimum for the relative mass flow rate is reproduced.

Lattice Boltzmann method for thermal flow simulation on standard lattices

The recently introduced consistent lattice Boltzmann model with energy conservation [S. Ansumali and I. V. Karlin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 260605 (2005)] is extended to the simulation of thermal flows on standard lattices. The two-dimensional thermal model on the standard square lattice with nine velocities is developed and validated in the thermal Couette and Rayleigh-Bénard natural convection problems.

From hyperbolic regularization to exact hydrodynamics for linearized Grad's equations

Inspired by a recent hyperbolic regularization of Burnett's hydrodynamic equations [A. Bobylev, J. Stat. Phys. 124, 371 (2006)], we introduce a method to derive hyperbolic equations of linear hydrodynamics to any desired accuracy in Knudsen number. The approach is based on a dynamic invariance principle which derives exact constitutive relations for the stress tensor and heat flux, and a transformation which renders the exact equations of hydrodynamics hyperbolic and stable. The method is described in detail for a simple kinetic model -- a 13 moment Grad system.