Examination of the Slip Boundary Condition by µ-PIV and Lattice Boltzmann Simulations

This work examines the slip boundary condition by Lattice Boltzmann simulations, addresses the validity of the Navier’s hypothesis that the slip velocity is proportional to the shear rate and compares the Lattice Boltzmann simulations to the experimental results of Tretheway and Meinhart (Phys. of Fluids, 14, L9–L12). The numerical simulation models the boundary condition as the probability, P, of a particle to bounce-back relative to the probability of specular reflection, 1−P. For channel flow, the numerically calculated velocity profiles are consistent with the experimental profiles for both the no-slip and slip cases. No-slip is obtained for a probability of 100% bounce-back, while a probability of 0.03 is required to generate a slip length and slip velocity consistent with the experimental results of Tretheway and Meinhart for a hydrophobic surface. The simulations indicate that for microchannel flow the slip length is nearly constant along the channel walls, while the slip velocity varies with wall position as a results of variations in shear rate. Thus, the resulting velocity profile in a channel flow is more complex than a simple combination of the no-slip solution and slip velocity as is the case for flow between two infinite parallel plates.