Effect of hydrodynamic interactions on the irreversible deposition of colloidal particles: Deposition algorithm and simulations

A Stokesian dynamics constraint algorithm for the irreversible deposition o f colloidal particles onto a surface is presented. This algorithm can also be used to simulate a variety of nondeposition phenomena and with any metho d for computing the hydrodynamic interactions among the particles. In parti cular, a multipole scheme we recently described for computing the mobility matrix of colloidal particles, with or without the presence of a wall, is u sed here in conjunction with the new deposition algorithm to perform Stokes ian dynamics irreversible deposition simulations on a group of 75 colloidal particles. Deposition simulations are performed with and without the hydro dynamic effect of the wall (substrate) being included in the mobility matri x. The results of the simulations lead to important qualitative conclusions on the effect of hydrodynamic interactions on the deposition process, in p articular the hydrodynamic effect of the wall. In addition, the simulations serve to illustrate the performance of the new deposition algorithm. (C) 2 000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(00)50324-9].