Chapman-Enskog Analysis of Finite Volume Lattice Boltzmann Schemes

Abstract

In this paper, we provide a systematic analysis of some finite volume lattice Boltzmann schemes in two dimensions. A complete iteration cycle in time evolution of discretized distribution functions is formally divided into collision and propagation (streaming) steps. Considering mass and momentum conserving properties of the collision step, it becomes obvious that changes in the momentum of finite volume cells is just due to the propagation step. Details of the propagation step are discussed for different approximate schemes for the evaluation of fluxes at the boundaries of the finite volume cells. Moreover, a full Chapman-Enskog analysis is conducted allowing to recover the Navier-Stokes equation. As an important result of this analysis, the relation between the lattice Boltzmann relaxation time and the kinematic viscosity of the fluid is derived for each approximate flux evaluation scheme. In particular, it is found that the constant upwind scheme leads to a positive numerical viscosity while the central scheme as well as the linear upwind scheme are free of this artifact.