Simulation of saltation motion using LBE based methods

Institute of Hydrodynamics, ASCR, Pod Paťankou 5, Prague, Czech Republic

^a e-mail: dolansky@ih.cas.cz

Published online: 25 March 2014

Abstract

The numerical model of the motion of the circular particle close to the bed in an open channel with a rugged bed based on the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is presented. The LBM is used as a DNS approach in which hydrodynamic forces are expressed as sum of contributions from fluid elements interacting with the moving particle. The corresponding numerical simulation for the saltation motion which represents a dominant mode of the bed load transport is developed. Flow is driven by the logarithmic velocity profile at the inlet of a two dimensional channel with a bed formed by semi-circles of variable radii in a bed of particles. Translational and rotational movements of the particle are induced by gravitational force on one hand, and by hydrodynamic forces on the other hand. The LBE (lattice Boltzmann equation) based simulation provides the opportunity to study the behavior of saltation motion in the moderate and high Reynolds number regimes. Most of the input parameters, including boundary conditions or flow conditions, are adjustable within a range of values. Stability issues of the simulation are considered and a resolution using a combination of different LBE models and the extension of computational resources is proposed. Finally, an enhancement of the simulation for more complex processes is suggested.