A lattice Boltzmann method for axisymmetric multicomponent flows with high viscosity ratio

A color-gradient lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is proposed to simulate axisymmetric multicomponent flows. This method uses a collision operator that is a combination of three separate parts, namely single-component collision operator, perturbation operator, and recoloring operator. A source term is added into the single-component collision operator such that in each single-component region the axisymmetric continuity and momentum equations can be exactly recovered. The interfacial tension effect is realized by the perturbation operator, in which an interfacial force of axisymmetric form is derived using the concept of continuum surface force. A recoloring operator proposed by Latva-Kokko and Rothman is extended to the axisymmetric case for phase segregation and maintenance of the interface. To enhance the method's numerical stability for handling binary fluids with high viscosity ratio, a multiple-relaxation-time model is used for the collision operator. Several numerical examples, including static droplet test, oscillation of a viscous droplet, and breakup of a liquid thread, are presented to test the capability and accuracy of the proposed color-gradient LBM. It is found that the present method is able to accurately capture the phase interface and produce low spurious velocities. Also, the LBM results are all in good agreement with the analytical solutions and/or available experimental data for a very broad range of viscosity ratios.