Lattice Boltzmann simulations have been very successful in simulating liquid-gas and other multiphase fluid systems. However, the underlying second-order analysis of the equation of motion has long been known to be insufficient to consistently derive the fourth-order terms that are necessary to represent an extended interface. These same terms are also responsible for thermodynamic consistency—i.e., to obtain a true equilibrium solution with both a constant chemical potential and a constant pressure. In this article we present an equilibrium analysis of nonideal lattice Boltzmann methods of sufficient order to identify those higher-order terms that lead to a lack of thermodynamic consistency. We then introduce a thermodynamically consistent forcing method.

• Received 5 July 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.74.056703