Simulating deformable particle suspensions using a coupled lattice-Boltzmann and finite-element method

A novel method is developed to simulate Suspensions of deformable particles by coupling the lattice-Boltzmann method (LBM) for the fluid phase to a linear finite-element analysis (FEA) describing particle deformation. The methodology addresses the need for ail efficient method to simulate large numbers of three-dimensional and deformable particles at high volume fraction in order to capture Suspension rheology, microstructure, and self-diffusion in a variety of applications. The robustness and accuracy of the LBM-FEA method is demonstrated by simulating an inflating thin-walled sphere, a deformable spherical capsule ill shear flow, a settling sphere ill a confined channel, two approaching spheres, spheres in shear flow, and red blood cell deformation in flow chambers. Additionally, simulations of suspensions Of hundreds of biconcave red blood cells at 40% volume Fraction produce continuum-scale physics and accurately predict suspension viscosity and the shear-thinning behaviour of blood. Simulations of fluid-filled spherical capsules which have red-blood-cell membrane properties also display deformation-induced shear-thinning behaviour at 40% volume fraction, although the Suspension viscosity is significantly lower than blood.