Volumetric Lattice Boltzmann Models in General Curvilinear Coordinates: Theoretical Formulation

Abstract

A theoretical formulation of lattice Boltzmann models on a general curvilinear coordinate system is presented. It is based on a volumetric representation so that mass and momentum are exactly conserved as in the conventional lattice Boltzmann on a Cartesian lattice. In contrast to some previously existing approaches for arbitrary meshes involving interpolation approximations among multiple neighboring cells, the current formulation preserves the fundamental one-to-one advection feature of a standard lattice Boltzmann method on a uniform Cartesian lattice. The new approach is built on the concept that a particle is moving along a curved path. A discrete space-time inertial force is derived so that the momentum conservation is exactly ensured for the underlying Euclidean space. We theoretically show that the new scheme recovers the Navier-Stokes equation in general curvilinear coordinates in the hydrodynamic limit, along with the correct mass continuity equation.