Numerical simulation of the lateral migration of a neutrally buoyant particle in 2d poiseuille flow

The lateral migration of a neutrally buoyant rigid particle suspended in Poiseuille flow was studied using two-dimensional numerical simulations with Reynolds number (Re) ranging from 10 to 1000. A fractional step method and an immersed boundary method were used to analyze the motion of the particle and the lateral force exerted on it. Computation of the particle trajectories showed that suspended particles asymptotically approach a single equilibrium lateral position, the location of which depends on particle size and Re. As Re increases, the equilibrium position moves slightly towards the channel wall at first, then shifts towards the channel centerline. At low Re, the equilibrium positions are closer to the channel centerline for larger particles; at higher Re, equilibrium positions become almost insensitive to particle size.