A method for near-equilibrium discrete-velocity gas flows (Q1323809)

We present a simulation scheme for discrete-velocity gases based on local thermodynamic equilibrium. Exploiting the kinetic nature of discrete- velocity gases results in a natural splitting of fluxes, and the resultant scheme strongly resembles the original process. The kinetic nature of the scheme and the modeling of the infinite collision rate limit, result in a small value of the coefficient of (numerical)- viscosity, the behavior of which is remarkably physical. A first-order method and two second-order methods using the total variation diminishing principle are developed and an example application is presented.