Numerical Simulation of Drop Behavior Using Phase-field Lattice Boltzmann Method

• Author / Creator

  Chen, Zhe

• In this study, we analysed numerically the behaviour of a liquid drop immersed into another immiscible liquid on a solid surface using a diffuse interface phase-field lattice Boltzmann method proposed by Mitchell et al. (Mitchell et al., 2018). The objective of the study is to assess the capabilities of the method when applied to several benchmarks. Special attention is given to the implementation of the wetting boundary condition, which poses a significant challenge in numerical modelling of a contact line motion.
  For the first benchmark study, we placed a semi-circular droplet on a solid surface and let it equilibrate. The ability of the method to recover the static equilibrium con- tact angle achieved at different characteristics of the solid surface (from hydrophilic to hydrophobic) was assessed. The deviation between the numerical and analytical predictions in terms of the maximum height of the drop at the equilibrium state is within 3.3%.
  Then, the simulations of a droplet sliding in a simple shear flow were performed to explore the capability of the method to capture the contact line motion. The numerical findings of the present work were compared to the reference data obtained by molecular dynamics simulation. The comparison showed a reasonable prediction for the receding angles, but not for the advancing angles. The possible reason and discussion are provided.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Phase-field method
  • Numerical Simulation
  • Lattice Boltzmann Method
  • Contact line motion

• Graduation date

  Fall 2019

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-3568-9033

• License

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