title: Efficient lattice Boltzmann algorithm for Brownian suspensions.
abstract: A lattice Boltzmann (LB)-based hybrid method is developed to simulate suspensions of Brownian particles. The method uses conventional LB discretization (without fluid- level fluctuations) for suspending fluid, and treats Brownian particles as point masses with a stochastic thermal noise. LB equations are used to compute the velocity perturbations induced by the particle motion. It is shown that this method correctly reproduces the short-time and long-time diffusive behaviour of a Brownian particle. Unlike the earlier hybrid methods that use thermal fluctuations in the fluid, this method correctly reproduces the temperature of the particle and does not require an empirical rescaling of the bare friction coefficient to obtain the correct diffusive behaviour. It is observed that the present method is at least twice as fast as the earlier method. This method is best suited for flows of polymers and Brownian suspensions in microfluidic devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), Powai, Mumbai 400076, India.
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mynam
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sunthar
authors.forename: Santosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ansumali
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004058:Diffusion; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015233:Models, Statistical; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013535:Suspensions / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D013535:Suspensions