Effect of particle density in turbulent channel flows with resolved oblate spheroids

•Lattice Boltzmann simulations of turbulent particulate flows with heavy and neutrally-buoyant oblate spheroids are compared.•Heavy particles considerably change the fluid and particle statistics.•Heavy particles cause a higher reduction of the fluid streamwise velocity compared to the neutrally-buoyant ones.•The concentration of heavy oblate spheroids increases gradually all the way up to channel center.