Binary fluid flow simulations with free energy lattice Boltzmann methods

We use free energy lattice Boltzmann methods to simulate shear and extensional flows of a binary fluid in two and three dimensions. To this end, two classical configurations are digitally twinned, namely a parallel-band device for binary shear flow and a four-roller apparatus for binary extensional flow. The free energy lattice Boltzmann method and the test cases are implemented in the open-source parallel C++ framework OpenLB and evaluated for several non-dimensional numbers. Characteristic deformations are captured, where breakup mechanisms occur for critical capillary regimes. Though the known mass leakage for small droplet-domain ratios and large Cahn numbers is observed, suitable mesh sizes show good agreement to analytical predictions and reference results.