FLOW COMPUTATION WITH LATTICE GASES

Cellular automata offer a simple way to simulate flow in complex geometries. The algorithm computes flow by tracking the paths of individual particles of a simple lattice gas. An advantage of this approach is that many of the traditional problems of conventional numerical techniques in dealing with complex boundaries are avoided. In particular explicit front tracking of moving interfaces in two-phase flow is not necessary. On the other hand, some problems appear that are specific to lattice gas models. In this paper we propose solutions to these problems. Furthermore, we give an overview of the current status of lattice gas algorithms with respect to applications in fluid flow.