Lattice Boltzmann method for three-dimensional moving particles in a Newtonian fluid

A lattice Boltzmann method is developed to simulate three-dimensional solid particle motions in fluids. In the present model, a uniform grid is used and the exact spatial location of the physical boundary of the suspended particles is determined using an interpolation scheme. The numerical accuracy and efficiency of the proposed lattice Boltzmann method is demonstrated by simulating the sedimentation of a single sphere in a square cylinder. Highly accurate simulation results can be achieved with few meshes, compared with the previous lattice Boltzmann methods. The present method is expected to find applications on the flow systems with moving boundaries, such as the blood flow in distensible vessels, the particle-flow interaction and the solidification of alloys.