Microstructure and rheology of finite inertia neutrally buoyant suspensions

Abstract

The microstructure and rheological properties of suspensions of neutrally buoyant hard spherical particles in Newtonian fluid under conditions of finite inertia are studied using the lattice-Boltzmann method (LBM), which is based on a discrete Boltzmann model for the fluid and Newtonian dynamics for the particles. The suspensions are subjected to simple-shear flow and the properties are studied as a function of Reynolds number and volume fraction, $\phi$. The inertia is characterized by the particle-scale shear flow Reynolds number $Re = \frac{\rho \dot{\gamma}a^{2}}{\mu}$, where $a$ is the particle radius, $\dot{\gamma}$ is the shear rate and $\rho$ and $\mu$ are the density and viscosity of the fluid, respectively. The influences of inertia and of the volume fraction are studied for $0.005\leqslant Re \leqslant 5$ and $0.1\leqslant \phi \leqslant 0.35$. The flow-induced microstructure is studied using the pair distribution function $g(\boldsymbol{r})$. Different stress mechanisms, including those due to surface tractions (stresslet), acceleration, and the Reynolds stress due to velocity fluctuations are computed and their influence on the first and second normal stress differences, the particle pressure and the viscosity of the suspensions are detailed. The probability density functions of particle force and torque are also presented.