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Investigating flow patterns in a channel with complex obstacles using the lattice Boltzmann method

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Abstract

In this work, mesoscopic modeling via a computational lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is used to investigate the flow pattern phenomena and the physical properties of the flow field around one and two square obstacles inside a two-dimensional channel with a fixed blockage ratio, β=1/4, centered inside a 2D channel, for a range of Reynolds numbers (Re) from 1 to 300. The simulation results show that flow patterns can initially exhibit laminar flow at low Re and then make a transition to periodic, unsteady, and, finally, turbulent flow as the Re get higher. Streamlines and velocity profiles and a vortex shedding pattern are observed. The Strouhal numbers are calculated to characterize the shedding frequency and flow dynamics. The effect of the layouts or configurations of the obstacles are also investigated, and the possible connection between the mixing process and the appropriate design of a chemical mixing system is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mathematics Department, Center of Excellence in Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI, Bangkok, Thailand, 10400

    Jiraporn Yojina, Yongwimon Lenbury & Somchai Sriyab

  2. Biophysics Group, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI, Bangkok, Thailand, 10400

    Jiraporn Yojina, Waipot Ngamsaad, Narin Nuttavut, Darapond Triampo, Somchai Sriyab & Wannapong Triampo

  3. Center of Excellence for Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI, Bangkok, Thailand, 10400

    Wannapong Triampo

  4. ThEP Center, CHE, 328 Si Ayutthaya Road, Bangkok, Thailand, 10400

    Wannapong Triampo

  5. Department of Chemistry, Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI, Bangkok, Thailand, 10400

    Darapond Triampo

  6. Rajamangala University of Technology, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand, 10800

    Paisan Kanthang

Authors
  1. Jiraporn Yojina
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  2. Waipot Ngamsaad
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  3. Narin Nuttavut
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  4. Darapond Triampo
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  5. Yongwimon Lenbury
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  6. Paisan Kanthang
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  7. Somchai Sriyab
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  8. Wannapong Triampo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wannapong Triampo.

Additional information

This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor

Jiraporn Yojina received a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the Mathematics Department, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, in 2010. Her research interests focus on mathematical biology and medicine.

Waipot Ngamsaad received a Ph.D. in Physics from Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, in 2010. His research interests focus on computational biophysics and LBM.

Wannapong Triampo received a Ph.D. in Physics from Virginia Tech, USA, in 2001. Sinice graduation, he has been with Mahidol University, Thailand, where he is now an Associate Professor in Physics. His research interests focus on biophysics and stochastic modeling.

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Yojina, J., Ngamsaad, W., Nuttavut, N. et al. Investigating flow patterns in a channel with complex obstacles using the lattice Boltzmann method. J Mech Sci Technol 24, 2025–2034 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-010-0712-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-010-0712-x

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