Multiscale simulation method for self-organization of nanoparticles in dense suspension

This paper presents a multiscale simulation method for self-organization of nanoparticles in a dense suspension. The method consists of a solid–liquid two-phase model, in which the flow of solvent and the motion of nanoparticles are treated by an Euler–Lagrange hybrid scheme with a dual time stepping. The method also includes various multiscale forces whose characteristic length and time scales are much different with one another. Especially frictional force between nanoparticles is included to describe dynamics of aggregated nanoparticles more precisely. Two-dimensional simulation results indicate that the present multiscale method is effective for modeling of motion of nanoparticles in the dense suspension and provides more rational results for self-organization of nanoparticles than previous simulation methods. 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. MSC: 65L05; 65M06; 70E55; 76T20; 76D07