Recent Computational Advances in Dense Suspension Mechanics

TL;DR

Recent computational advances have enabled multi-scale simulation of dense suspension mechanics, integrating contact friction, hydrodynamics, and mesoscale organization to improve predictive modeling of complex flow behaviors.

Contribution

This paper reviews state-of-the-art computational frameworks that unify granular contact mechanics with suspension hydrodynamics for dense suspension modeling.

Findings

Hierarchical structure from microscale to macroscale governs flow.

Simulation methods range from particle-resolved to continuum models.

mesoscale frictional networks influence macroscopic rheology.

Abstract

Dense suspensions of particles dispersed in liquids are central to industrial and geophysical processes and serve as model systems for out-of-equilibrium soft matter. At high particle concentrations, they exhibit stress-dependent rheology, including discontinuous shear thickening and shear jamming, arising from frictional contacts. Nonlinear physics arises from the interplay among direct contacts, interfacial chemistry, and fluid-mediated hydrodynamics. The relative importance of these mechanisms depends on particle properties and flow conditions, making predictive modeling inherently multi-scale and, therefore, computationally challenging. Recent advances in computational methods have transformed our ability to simulate the physics of dense suspensions across scales. In this Perspective, we discuss state-of-the-art simulation frameworks that integrate the mechanics of dry granular materials, mediated by contact friction, with suspension hydrodynamics to provide predictive models of dense suspension rheology. We highlight recent computational developments for simulating dense suspensions at varying levels of fidelity, ranging from particle-resolved to continuum models, as well as models that investigate their mesoscale organization during flow. Together, these approaches reveal a hierarchical structure in which microscale constraints give rise to mesoscale frictional networks that ultimately govern macroscopic flow. By synthesizing developments across computational mechanics and soft matter physics, this Perspective highlights emerging directions toward a predictive, multi-scale modeling framework of dense suspensions in realistic geometries and complex flow environments.