Dartmouth Events

Abstract- The underlying physics in a real fluid is described by a micro-dynamical process with a continuous space and time. Since about two decades ago, there has been a development of a new framework in computational fluid dynamics, namely the so-called lattice Boltzmann methods (LBM). It can be interpreted as an analogue to the Boltzmann kinetic theory on a discrete phase space. As a consequence, fluid phenomena in the usual Navier-Stokes regime as well as beyond may be practically simulated. This “bottom-up” approach to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is fundamentally different from the conventional “top-down” representation via closed equations at the macroscopic level.  Obviously, the key question is whether and under what conditions such a discrete kinetic formulation may faithfully and sufficiently represent the relevant physics of a real fluid.  In this talk, the speaker will first give a brief introduction to some basics of kinetic theory and its discrete offspring, lattice Boltzmann Methods. The emphasis is on certain essential ingredients for recovering various hydrodynamic regimes via proper discretizations. Throughout the talk, the speaker will also present several examples showing various impacts of this new computational fluid dynamics approach in some important real world engineering applications, including extensions for supersonic flows and complex multiphase flows, and so on. 

Bio- Dr. Chen received his Ph.D. degree in Physics from Dartmouth College under supervision of Professor David Montgomery in 1986. Since then he has worked at University of Delaware and Los Alamos National Laboratory.  He returned to Dartmouth Physics Department as a Research and Visiting Assistant Professor in 1989 until joining a startup company, Exa Corporation in 1993. During last two decades working at Exa, Dr.Chen has a lead responsibility for developing a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software for real-world engineering applications. His current role is the Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Exa. The company is now one of the leading CFD software providers in the world.  Dr. Chen’s scientific research is mainly on kinetic theory, plasma physics, fluid and MHD turbulence, as well as pioneering the lattice Boltzmann methods. Dr.Chen also has served on various advisory roles at several academic institutions through the years, including an Adjunct Professor position at Boston University, a Visiting Full Professor at Harvard University, as well as a member of the Scientific Board of IMASC of Harvard University. Dr.Chen was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2000. Dr.Chen has published over a hundred scientific papers with close to six thousand citations, as well as a holder of many technology patents.