Numerical Approaches to Complex Fluids

Abstract

We are surrounded by a variety of fluids in our everyday life. Besides water and air, it is common to deal with fluids with a peculiar behaviour such as gel, mayonnaise, ketchup and toothpaste. While simple fluids made by identical molecules show a linear response to the applied forces, complex fluids with a microstructure, such as suspensions, may show a very complex response. In this chapter, we introduce numerical approaches for complex fluids focusing on the way the additional stress, due to the presence of a microstructure, is modelled and how rigid and deformable intrusions can be simulated.