LBM, a useful tool for mesoscale modelling of single-phase and multiphase flow

Abstract This paper first gives an overview of the recent development of the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) for modelling engineering encountered single-phase and multiphase flow problems to demonstrate that the LBM is a useful tool for mesoscale modelling. The challenges and the advantages of the LBM in modelling of interfacial transport phenomena of two-phase and complex flows are particularly addressed in the paper. Furthermore, as an application of the LBM, the authors’ recent work in modelling of bubbles flow and coalescence in micro-channels, and the behaviours of a single droplet impinging to and spreading on a micro structured roughness surface are presented.