Interface and surface tension in incompressible lattice Boltzmann multiphase model

This paper studies the interfacial dynamics and surface tension in an incom pressible lattice Boltzmann multiphase model proposed recently by He et al. [J. Comput. Phys. 152 (1999) 642]. The model tracks different phases and t he interface between them using an index fluid with molecular interaction. When the molecular interaction is strong enough, the index fluid automatica lly segregates into two different phases. The surface tension is implemente d in the model using a term as a function of the gradient of the index flui d density. The strength of the surface tension depends on the molecular int eraction, and can be adjusted conveniently by a free parameter. Numerical s imulations for a variety of flow conditions with surface tension are carrie d out to demonstrate the capability of the model. (C) 2000 Published by Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.