A Study of Fluid Interfaces and Moving Contact Lines Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method

Abstract

We study the static and dynamical behavior of the contact line between two fluids and a solid plate by means of the Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The different fluid phases and their contact with the plate are simulated by means of standard Shan-Chen models. We investigate different regimes and compare the multicomponent vs. the multiphase LBM models near the contact line. A static interface profile is attained with the multiphase model just by balancing the hydrostatic pressure (due to gravity) with a pressure jump at the bottom. In order to study the same problem with the multicomponent case we propose and validate an idea of a body force acting only on one of the two fluid components. In order to reproduce results matching an infinite bath, boundary conditions at the bath side play a key role. We quantitatively compare open and wall boundary conditions and study their influence on the shape of the meniscus against static and lubrication theory solution.