Pseudo-Particle modeling: exploring the heterogeneity in particle-fluid systems

摘要

Pseudo-Particle Modeling (PPM)-a particle approach we proposed (Ge and Li, 1996)-is discussed further and applied to the simulation of particle-fluid flows. Existent simulation approaches for these flows are reviewed first, from which we conclude that to improve these approaches, understanding of microscopic flow behavior is necessary, and particle approaches (PA) are suitable tools for this purpose. Compared with other PA, th advantages of PPM lies in that all necessities on the molecular level for comprehensive flow description are maintained but it is still suitable to massive parallel processing and affordable for contemporary computers. A series of 2D simulations in PPM, including that of the flow around a single cylinder, of flow past static particles and of solids clustering in originally uniform suspension are carried out, which demonstrates how microscopic flow behavior leads to the macro-scale heterogeneity in particle-fluid systems. Future developments in this field are also suggested in the article.