Simple diffusion hopping model with convection

Abstract

We present results from a new variant of a diffusion hopping model, the convective diffusive lattice model, to describe the behavior of a particulate flux around bluff obstacles. Particle interactions are constrained to an underlying square lattice where particles are subject to excluded volume conditions. In an extension to previous models, we impose a real continuous velocity field upon the lattice such that particles have an associated velocity vector. We use this velocity field to mediate the position update of the particles through the use of a convective update after which particles also undergo diffusion. We demonstrate the emergence of an expected wake behind a square obstacle which increases in size with increasing object size. For larger objects we observe the presence of recirculation zones marked by the presence of symmetric vortices in qualitative agreement with experiment and previous simulations.