Dissipative-particle dynamics simulations of flow over a stationary sphere in compliant channels

Abstract

Dissipative-particle dynamics (DPD), a particle-based fluid-simulation approach, is employed to simulate isothermal pressure-driven flow across a sphere in compliant cylindrical channels. The sphere is represented by frozen DPD particles, while the surrounding fluid is modeled using simple fluid particles. The channel walls are made up of interconnected finite extensible nonlinear elastic bead-spring chains. The wall particles at the inlet and outlet ends of the channel are frozen so as to hinge the channel. The model is assessed for accuracy by computing the drag coefficient CD in shear flow past a uniform sphere in unbounded flow, and comparing the results with those from correlations in literature. The effect of the aspect ratio λ of the channel, i.e., the ratio of the sphere diameter d to the channel diameter D, on the drag force FD on the sphere is investigated, and it is found that FD decreases as λ decreases toward the values predicted by the correlations as λ approaches zero. The effect of the elasticity of the wall is also studied. It is observed that as the wall becomes more elastic, there is a decrease in FD on the sphere.