Numerical simulation of the motion of neutrally buoyant particles in the plane Poiseuille flow of a Newtonian fluid

In this note we discuss the generalization of a Lagrange multiplier based f ictitious domain method to the simulation of migration of neutrally buoyant particles in plane Poiseuille flow of a Newtonian fluid. The migration awa y from the center of the channel is believed to be an effect of the curvatu re of the velocity profile. We found this effect is not weakened by the pre sence of many particles, but instead by the collisions among the particles. Experiments and simulations show that the particles concentrate in the cen tral region where the shear rate is low. (C) 2001 Academie des sciences/Edi tions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.