The computation of strain rate tensor in multiple-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann model

The multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) lattice Boltzmann (LB) model is an important class of LB model with lots of advantages over the traditional single-relaxation-time (SRT) LB model. Generally, the computation of strain rate tensor is crucial for the MRT-LB simulations of some complex flows. At present, only two formulae are available to compute the strain rate tensor in the MRT LB model. One is to compute the strain rate tensor using the non-equilibrium parts of macroscopic moments (Yu formula). The other is to compute the strain rate tensor using the non-equilibrium parts of density distribution functions (Chai formula). The mathematical expressions of these two formulae are so different that we do not know which formula to choose for computing the strain rate tensor in the MRT LB model. To overcome this problem, this paper presents a theoretical study of the relationship between Chai and Yu formulae. The results show that the Yu formula can be deduced from the Chai formula, although they have their own advantages and disadvantages. In particular, the Yu formula is computationally more efficient, while the Chai formula is applicable to more lattice patterns of the MRT LB models. Furthermore, the derivation of the Yu formula in a particular lattice pattern from the Chai formula is more convenient than that proposed by Yu et al.