Simulation of power-law fluid flow through porous media using lattice Boltzmann techniques. (English) Zbl 1195.76391

Sullivan, S. P.; Gladden, L. F.; Johns, M. L.

J. Non-Newton. Fluid Mech. 133, No. 2-3, 91-98 (2006).

Summary: The lattice Boltzmann (LB) method has been used to simulate, at the pore scale, the flow of non-Newtonian fluids through complex random porous media in both two and three dimensions. We focus our work on power-law fluids with index \(n < 1\) (shear-thinning), though the method is sufficiently general to include other stress-shear rate relationships. Simulated results of flux versus driving force show excellent agreement with established theory, provided sufficient lattice resolution is used. In this respect we explore and quantify the relationship between lattice resolution and simulation accuracy as a function of \(n\).

MSC:

76S05	Flows in porous media; filtration; seepage
76A05	Non-Newtonian fluids
76M28	Particle methods and lattice-gas methods

Keywords:

shear-thinning; LB; porous medium; pore-scale simulation