We propose, analyze, and validate a lattice Boltzmann model with a cumulant collision operator. The new model is analytically and numerically shown to poses smaller errors than a moment based Multiple Relaxation Time lattice Boltzmann model. We demonstrate the usability of the cumulant lattice Boltzmann model by simulations of flow around a sphere for Reynolds numbers from 200 to 105
Lattice Boltzmann methods are of limited applicability for direct numerical simulation of turbulent flow due to instabilities in the zero viscosity limit. We observe that this is caused by an insufficient degree of Galilean invariance of the relaxation-type Lattice Boltzmann collision operator. The cascaded digital lattice Boltzmann automata described here, provides a method with which to achieve stable collision operators down to the limit of zero viscosity.
Based on the phase-field theory, we propose a conservative lattice Boltzmann method to track the interface between two different fluids. The presented model recovers the conservative phase-field equation and conserves mass locally and globally. Two entirely different approaches are used to calculate the gradient of the phase field, which is needed in computation of the normal to the interface. One approach uses finite-difference stencils similar to many existing lattice Boltzmann models for tracking the two-phase interface, while the other one invokes central moments to calculate the gradient of the phase field without any finite differences involved. The former approach suffers from the nonlocality of the collision operator while the latter is entirely local making it highly suitable for massive parallel implementation. Several benchmark problems are carried out to assess the accuracy and stability of the proposed model.