Generalized Gas Dynamic Equations for Microflows

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new set of generalized gas dynamic equations using a tensorial temperature concept, extending Navier-Stokes equations for microflows and capturing non-equilibrium effects.

Contribution

The paper derives a regularized 1st-order gas dynamic model with tensorial temperature, unifying viscous and heat conduction effects for microflow simulations.

Findings

The model recovers Navier-Stokes equations in the continuum limit.

Numerical validation shows good agreement with analytical solutions.

The equations effectively describe microflow regimes.

Abstract

n an early approach, we proposed a kinetic model with multiple translational temperature [K. Xu, H. Liu and J. Jiang, Phys. Fluids {\bf 19}, 016101 (2007)], to simulate non-equilibrium flows. In this paper, instead of using three temperatures in $x-$, $y-$, and $z$-directions, we are going to further define the translational temperature as a second-order symmetric tensor. Based on a multiple stage BGK-type collision model and the Chapman-Enskog expansion, the corresponding macroscopic gas dynamics equations in three-dimensional space will be derived. The zeroth-order expansion gives the 10 moment closure equations of Levermore [C.D. Levermore, J. Stat. Phys {\bf 83}, pp.1021 (1996)]. To the 1st-order expansion, the derived gas dynamic equations can be considered as a regularization of Levermore's 10 moments equations. The new gas dynamic equations have the same structure as the Navier-Stokes equations, but the stress strain relationship in the Navier-Stokes equations is replaced by an algebraic equation with temperature differences. At the same time, the heat flux, which is absent in Levermore's 10 moment closure, is recovered. As a result, both the viscous and the heat conduction terms are unified under a single anisotropic temperature concept. In the continuum flow regime, the new gas dynamic equations automatically recover the standard Navier-Stokes equations. The current gas dynamic equations are natural extension of the Navier-Stokes equations to the near continuum flow regime and can be used for microflow computations. Two examples, the force-driven Poiseuille flow and the Couette flow in the transition flow regime, are used to validate the model. Both analytical and numerical results are encouraging.