A lattice Boltzmann method for dilute polymer solutions.

We present a lattice Boltzmann approach for the simulation of non-Newtonian fluids. The method is illustrated for the specific case of dilute polymer solutions. With the appropriate local equilibrium distribution, phase-space dynamics on a lattice, driven by a Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook (BGK) relaxation term, leads to a solution of the Fokker-Planck equation governing the probability density of polymer configurations. Results for the bulk rheological characteristics for steady and start-up shear flow are presented, and compare favourably with those obtained using Brownian dynamics simulations. The new method is less expensive than stochastic simulation techniques, particularly in the range of small to moderate Weissenberg numbers (Wi).