Numerical simulations of polygonal particles settling within non-Newtonian fluids

Abstract

The settling of circular and polygonal particles within non-Newtonian fluids is investigated by combining the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) and the discrete element method (DEM). The immersed moving boundary (IMB) scheme with good numerical stability is adopted to couple LBM and DEM. To efficiently calculate the solid coverage ratio in IMB, a novel method is developed, which simply involves judging whether the square is fully occupied by the particle and subdividing the square crossed by the fluid–solid boundary. After validations, the drafting–kissing–tumbling dynamics of two particles settling in the Newtonian and power-law fluids are studied first. It shows that the shear-thickening fluid has a longer kissing duration than the Newtonian and shear-thinning fluids. The kissing duration of squared particles (0.29–0.41 s) is shorter than triangular particles (0.32–0.84 s) and much shorter than circular particles (0.61–0.98 s). Then, the settling of multiple and multi-shape particles in a closed cavity is analyzed. The disturbed area of kinematic viscosity induced by particle motion in the shear-thinning fluid is 21.0–22.5 cm2, significantly larger than in the shear-thickening fluid (10.1–10.8 cm2). Circular particles have a larger disturbed area than the polygonal particles due to the larger settling velocity. Moreover, compared with the Newtonian and shear-thinning fluids, the shear-thickening fluid has a smaller vertical length of particle cluster, meaning a positive influence on the agglomeration of particles.