Abstract: As a robust numerical simulation method, the lattice Boltzmann method has been widely used in various fields, especially in solving the problem of porous media. When the flow problem is too complicated, the calculation efficiency is low. Therefore, the inertia relaxation factor is introduced into the lattice Boltzmann method in this paper. The numerical simulation of the two-dimensional and three-dimensional lid-driven cavity flow are carried out. The simulation compares with the results obtained by using different inertia relaxation factors with the benchmark solutions from the aspects of computational efficiency, calculation accuracy and computational stability. The simulation results can improve the calculation efficiency while maintaining high precision, when the inertia relaxation factor is between 0.03 and 0.05. Then, the calculation efficiency develops with the increase of the inertia relaxation factor. They are important applications in engineering materials and the energy environmental fields.

Key words: inertia relaxation factor, lattice Boltzmann method, lid driven flow in closed square cavity, computational efficiency, convergence speed