A multiscale stochastic particle method based on the Fokker-Planck model for nonequilibrium gas flows

Abstract

The Fokker-Planck (FP) model characterizes the intermolecular collisions as continuous stochastic processes in velocity space. Compared to the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, which is grounded in the Boltzmann equation, the stochastic particle method based on the FP model, referred to as the SP-FP method, demonstrates a relative improvement in computational efficiency. However, the traditional SP-FP method, utilizing operator splitting scheme, encounters analogous limitations to DSMC, thereby limiting the application of large temporal-spatial discretization for simulating near-continuum and continuum flows. In this study, two critical advancements are introduced to improve the traditional SP-FP method. First, the exact integration scheme of the ellipsoidal-statistical FP (ESFP) model is derived, enabling the replication of the theoretical solutions for homogeneous relaxation with any time step. Furthermore, leveraging the integration scheme of the ESFP model, we propose a Multiscale Stochastic Particle (MSP) method. The MSP method quantifies the numerical errors stemming from the operator splitting scheme and corrects them in the relaxation step. This capability allows the MSP method to be employed with larger temporal-spatial discretization for inhomogeneous problems, achieving second-order accuracy while retaining implementation simplicity. Application of the MSP method to various benchmark problems, including Couette flow, Fourier flow, Poiseuille flow, Sod tube flow, Lid-driven cavity flow, and flow through a slit, demonstrates its promise for simulating multiscale nonequilibrium gas flows with high computational efficiency and accuracy.