FRIDAY, February 4, 2005
Time: 11:00 - 12:00 PM
Gornto 222

Prof. Li-Shi Luo
Mathematics and Statistics Department
Old Dominion University

This presentation will provide a brief overview of our knowledge related to mesoscopic methods for simulating incompressible flows and for modeling complex fluid behavior. In particular, the lattice-gas cellular automata (LGCA) and the lattice Boltzmann equation (LBE) models will be described. The first part of this talk will be concerned with the physical reasoning and justification for the mathematical features that result from these methods. The second part of the talk will attempt to show the audience how the lattice Boltzmann equation model can be exploited for realistic problems. The following examples will be described and discussed: (1) direct numerical simulations (DNS) of isotropic turbulence and large-eddy simulations utilizing the LBE method; (2) modeling of particle suspensions in fluids; and (3) multi-component and multi-phase flow through porous media. Through these examples we can discuss the pros and cons of the LBE method. More importantly, we hope to show that the lattice Boltzmann equation, as a mesoscopic method, can be an effective means to smoothly extend continuum/macroscopic methods (e.g., Navier-Stokes equations) into non-continuum regions which have to be dealt with by particle methods (e.g., DSMC or molecular dynamics), and how this approach can be applicable to bio- and nano-fluid systems.