A numerical model for translational and rotational momentum transfer of soft deformable micro particles in dilute two-phase flows

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Paul Steinmann
• Subject Area: Mechanics ; Applied Mechanics, Statics and Dynamics ; Mechanical Process Engineering ; Fluid Mechanics
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 510050592

The main objective of the project is to extend the numerical model developed in the previous project (rigid micro particles in dilute dispersed two-phase flow using the Lagrange-Euler approach) to a numerical model for translational and rotational momentum transfer of soft deformable micro particles. The first part is devoted to the development of a direct numerical simulation (DNS) tool capable of locally computing the flow-induced tractions and the resulting force and torque on a finite-sized soft deformable micro particle along with the particle deformation. Furthermore, the coupling between a CFD solver for the global-scale flow and Lagrangian particle tracking based on the novel soft deformable point-particle approach is established. This combination is achieved by an online approach based on the DNS tool, as well as by an offline approach based on a machine learned (ML) surrogate model. In the ML framework, a large DNS database of flow-induced forces and torques is built for different particle shapes, orientations, and flow conditions, allowing the trained ML model to be applied in computationally challenging flow cases with hundreds of thousands of soft deformable micro particles. Finally, the derived model is applied to a technologically relevant example of dilute multiphase flow with distributed lenticular vesicles.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants