Simulating Colloid Hydrodynamics with Lattice Boltzmann

TL;DR

This paper discusses advances in lattice Boltzmann simulations for colloidal suspensions, emphasizing particle-fluid interactions, thermal noise inclusion, and balancing computational efficiency with accuracy.

Contribution

It introduces improved methods for simulating colloids with binary solvents and thermal fluctuations using lattice Boltzmann techniques.

Findings

Successful simulation of colloid sedimentation and trapping at fluid interfaces.

Criteria for parameter selection in complex colloidal systems.

Trade-offs between computational resources and simulation accuracy.

Abstract

We present a progress report on our work on lattice Boltzmann methods for colloidal suspensions. We focus on the treatment of colloidal particles in binary solvents and on the inclusion of thermal noise. For a benchmark problem of colloids sedimenting and becoming trapped by capillary forces at a horizontal interface between two fluids, we discuss the criteria for parameter selection, and address the inevitable compromise between computational resources and simulation accuracy.