Fluid flow in a cavity driven by an oscillating lid—A simulation by lattice Boltzmann method

• Published in: European journal of mechanics, B, Fluids Vol. 39; pp. 59 - 70
• Main Authors: Mendu, Siva Subrahmanyam, Das, P.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Issy-les-Moulineaux Elsevier Masson SAS 01.05.2013; Elsevier Masson
• Subjects: Cavity flow; Computational methods in fluid dynamics; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid dynamics; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Laminar flows; Laminar flows in cavities; Lattice Boltzmann method; Oscillating lid; Phase diagram; Physics; Oscillating lid; Lattice Boltzmann method; Phase diagram; Cavity flow; Boltzmann equation; Digital simulation; Lattice model; Periodic oscillation; Modelling; Velocity distribution; Square section; Moving wall
• ISSN: 0997-7546; 1873-7390
• DOI: 10.1016/j.euromechflu.2012.12.002

The kinetic theory based lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is applied for the simulation of two dimensional fluid flow in a square cavity driven by a periodically oscillating lid. First, the developed code is validated against published works comprising of both numerical simulation and experiment for lid driven cavity flow. Next, the code has been applied for the oscillating lid case to simulate the fluid flow in a cavity for various Reynolds numbers (Re=100, 400 and 1000) and frequencies of oscillation (ω=2π/6,4π/3, and 2π). The development of vortices within the cavity depends strongly on Re and ω. At lower Re and ω, the effect of the lid motion is transferred to the bulk of the fluid in the cavity more effectively. While, at a combination of higher Re and ω only a narrow zone of the fluid body adjacent to the top lid is affected by its motion. Streamline plots provide the details of fluid flow. An increase in Re at a fixed ω, promotes the development of primary, secondary, corner and counter rotating vortices. However, the number of vortices within the cavity diminishes as ω increases. Finally, phase diagrams have been provided to show the periodic nature of the flow phenomenon. ► A BGK LBM model is developed to simulate the fluid flow phenomenon in a cavity driven by an oscillating lid. ► The effect of Reynolds number and frequency of oscillation on temporal variation of fluid flow has been studied. ► An increase in Reynolds number promotes the development of vortices within the cavity. ► The number of vortices diminishes as the frequency of oscillation increases. ► Phase diagram shows the periodicity of the system.