Modeling droplet-particle interactions on solid surfaces by coupling the lattice Boltzmann and discrete element methods

We introduce a numerical method for investigating interfacial flows coupled with frictional solid particles. Our method combines the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) to model the dynamics of a two-component fluid and the discrete element method (DEM) to model contact forces (normal reaction, sliding friction, rolling friction) between solid particles and between solid particles and flat solid surfaces. To couple the fluid and particle dynamics, we (1) use the momentum exchange method to transfer hydrodynamic forces between the fluids and particles, (2) account for different particle wettability using a geometric boundary condition, and (3) explicitly account for capillary forces between particles and liquid-fluid interfaces using a 3D capillary force model. We benchmark the contact forces by investigating the dynamics of a particle bouncing off a solid surface and rolling down an inclined plane. To benchmark the hydrodynamic and capillary forces, we investigate the Segrè-Silberberg effect and measure the force required to detach a particle from a liquid-fluid interface, respectively. Motivated by the self-cleaning properties of the lotus leaf, we apply our method to investigate how drops remove contaminant particles from surfaces and quantify the forces acting on particles during removal. Our method makes it possible to investigate the influence of various parameters that are often difficult to tune independently in experiments, including contact angles, surface tension, viscosity, and coefficient of friction between the surface and particles. Our results highlight that friction plays a crucial role when drops remove particles from surfaces.