Large eddy simulations of wall‐bounded flows using a simplified immersed boundary method and high‐order compact schemes

This paper presents a solution algorithm based on an immersed boundary (IB) method that can be easily implemented in high‐order codes for incompressible flows. The time integration is performed using a predictor‐corrector approach, and the projection method is used for pressure‐velocity coupling. Spatial discretization is based on compact difference schemes and is performed on half‐staggered meshes. A basic algorithm for body‐fitted meshes using the aforementioned solution method was developed by A. Tyliszczak (see article “A high‐order compact difference algorithm for half‐staggered grids for laminar and turbulent incompressible flows” in Journal of Computational Physics) and proved to be very accurate. In this paper, the formulated algorithm is adapted for use with the IB method in the framework of large eddy simulations. The IB method is implemented using its simplified variant without the interpolation (stepwise approach). The computations are performed for a laminar flow around a 2D cylinder, a turbulent flow in a channel with a wavy wall, and around a sphere. Comparisons with literature data confirm that the proposed method can be successfully applied for complex flow problems. The results are verified using the classical approach with body‐fitted meshes and show very good agreement both in laminar and turbulent regimes. The mean (velocity and turbulent kinetic energy profiles and drag coefficients) and time‐dependent (Strouhal number based on the drag coefficient) quantities are analyzed, and they agree well with reference solutions. Two subfilter models are compared, ie, the model of Vreman (see article “An eddy‐viscosity subgrid‐scale model for turbulent shear flow: algebraic theory and applications” in Physics and Fluids) and σ model (Nicoud et al, see article “Using singular values to build a subgrid‐scale model for large eddy simulations” in Physics and Fluids). The tests did not reveal evident advantages of any of these models, and from the point of view of solution accuracy, the quality of the computational meshes turned out to be much more important than the subfilter modeling.     

Nonlinear turbulence models for predicting strong curvature effects

Prediction of the characteristics of turbulent flows with strong streamline curvature, such as flows in turbomachines, curved channel flows, flows around airfoils and buildings, is of great importance in engineering applications and poses a very practical challenge for turbulence modeling. In this paper, we analyze qualitatively the curvature effects on the structure of turbulence and conduct numerical simulations of a turbulent Uduct flow with a number of turbulence models in order to assess their overall performance. The models evaluated in this work are some typical linear eddy viscosity turbulence models, nonlinear eddy viscosity turbulence models （NLEVM） （quadratic and cubic）, a quadratic explicit algebraic stress model （EASM） and a Reynolds stress model （RSM） developed based on the second-moment closure. Our numerical results show that a cubic NLEVM that performs considerably well in other benchmark turbulent flows, such as the Craft, Launder and Suga model and the Huang and Ma model, is able to capture the major features of the highly curved turbulent U-duct flow, including the damping of turbulence near the convex wall, the enhancement of turbulence near the concave wall, and the subsequent turbulent flow separation. The predictions of the cubic models are quite close to that of the RSM, in relatively good agreement with the experimental data, which suggests that these models may be employed to simulate the turbulent curved flows in engineering applications.     

Configuration-dependent friction coefficients and elastic dumbbell rheology

The kinetic theory of nonlinear elastic dumbbells, with bead friction coefficients that depend linearly on the interbead distance, is used to obtain the elongational viscosity and the dumbbell stretching as a function of elongation rate. The results are obtained by solving numerically the “diffusion equation” for the configurational distribution function. No S-shaped curves were found for the elongational viscosity or for the mean-square end-to-end distance. Previous investigators did report S-shaped curves and related “hysteresis” effects. However, their results were based on using mathematical approximations that now appear to be inappropriate.     

A dynamic framework for functional parameterisations of the eddy viscosity coefficient in two-dimensional turbulence

This paper puts forth a dynamic framework for investigating the subgrid scale physics of decaying two-dimensional turbulence utilising a modular approach with eddy viscosities in various functional forms. The derivation of the low-pass spatially filtered implementation of the Navier–Stokes equations is given by using the vorticity-streamfunction formulation. Two different implementations of the viscosity kernels based on the representation of the eddy viscosity terms are proposed and tested by solving a canonical two-dimensional decaying turbulence problem. It is seen that the implementation of the eddy viscosity formulation plays a distinct role in the dissipative behaviour of the different viscosity kernels. Among eddy viscosity kernels tested, we found that the Leith eddy viscosity formulation yields superior results with higher correlation coefficients.     

Turbulence modeling for the axially rotating pipe from the viewpoint of analytical closures

A single-point model eddy viscosity model of rotation effects on the turbulent flow in an axially rotating pipe is developed based on two-point closure theories. Rotation is known to impede energy transfer in turbulence; this fact is reflected in the present model through a reduced eddy viscosity, leading to laminarization of the mean velocity profile and return to a laminar friction law in the rapid rotation limit. This model is compared with other proposals including linear redistribution effects through the rapid pressure-strain correlation, Richardson number modification of the eddy viscosity in a model of non-rotating turbulence, and the reduction of turbulence through the suppression of near-wall production mechanisms. PACS 47.27.Eq, 47.32.-y     

Effective eddy viscosities in implicit modeling of decaying high Reynolds number turbulence with and without rotation

We assess the applicability of the numerical dissipation as an implicit turbulence model. The nonoscillatory finite volume numerical scheme MPDATA developed for simulations of geophysical flows is employed as an example of a scheme with an implicit turbulence model. A series of low resolution simulations of decaying homogeneous turbulence with and without Coriolis forces in the limit of zero molecular viscosity are performed. To assess the implicit model the long-time evolution of turbulence in the simulations is investigated and the numerical velocity fields are analyzed to determine the effective spectral eddy viscosity that is attributed to the numerical discretization. The detailed qualitative and quantitative comparisons are made between the numerical eddy viscosity and the theoretical results as well as the intrinsic eddy viscosity computed exactly from the velocity fields by introducing an artificial wave number cutoff. We find that the numerical dissipation depends on the time step and exhibits contradictory dependence on rotation: it is overestimated for rapid rotation cases and is underestimated for nonrotating cases. These results indicate that the numerical dissipation may fail to represent the effects of the physical subgrid scale processes unless the parameters of a numerical scheme are carefully chosen.     

Improvement of double-buffer problem in LES–RANS interface region by introducing an anisotropy-resolving subgrid-scale model

The “double-buffer problem” has been regarded as a crucial concern for the strategy behind the hybrid large eddy simulation (LES)/Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) model (or HLR model, for short). Such models are likely to show unphysical mean-velocity distributions in the LES–RANS interface region, where “super-streak structures” also appear that look like low-speed streaks generated in the near-wall region of wall turbulence. To overcome this difficulty, the stochastic backscatter model, in which the vortex structures in the interface region are divided into smaller scales, holds promise due to the effect of random source term imposed in the momentum equation. Although this method is effective, several parameters must be prescribed and their specification process is arbitrary and ambiguous. An alternative advanced HLR model has been proposed, in which an anisotropy-resolving subgrid-scale (SGS) model was adopted in the LES region as well as a one-equation nonlinear eddy viscosity model in the RANS region. Previous investigations indicated that this HLR model did not exhibit or, at least, largely reduced the “double-buffer problem” in the mean-velocity distribution, with no special treatment being applied. The main purpose of the present study is to reveal why this HLR model improves the predictive performance in the LES–RANS interface region. Specifically, we focus on the role of the extra anisotropic term introduced in the SGS model, finding that it plays an important role in enhancing vortex structures in the interface region, leading to a considerable improvement in model performance.     

Large eddy simulation of incompressible free round jet with discontinuous Galerkin method

In the paper, discontinuous Galerkin method is applied to simulation of incompressible free round turbulent jet using large eddy simulation with eddy viscosity approach. The solution algorithm is based on the classical projection method, but instead of the solution of the Poisson equation, a parabolic equation is advanced in pseudo‐time, which provides the pressure field ensuring the proper pressure–velocity coupling. For time and pseudo‐time integration, explicit Runge–Kutta method is employed. The computational meshes consist of hexahedral elements with flat faces. Within a given finite element, all flow variables are expressed with modal expansions of the same order (including velocity and pressure). Discretisation of the viscous terms in the Navier–Stokes equations and Laplacian in the Poisson equation is stabilised with mixed finite element approach. The correctness of the solution algorithm is verified in a commonly used test case of laminar flow in 3D lid‐driven cavity. The results of computations of the free jet are compared with experimental and numerical reference data, the latter obtained from the high‐order pseudospectral code. The statistics of centerline flow velocity – mean velocity and its fluctuations – show satisfactory agreement with the reference data. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On local solutions to non-Newtonian slow viscous flows

The eigenfunction expansion method is used to obtain local solutions to some non-Newtonian slow viscous flows. The forms of viscosity variation amenable to such analysis are restricted but do include power-law fluids. Power-law flow near a sharp corner between plane boundaries is analysed and results are obtained for the critical corner angle for eddy formation. Flows near a 90° corner with either a moving boundary or a finite flow rate at the corner are also considered. The “stick-slip” behaviour of a power-law fluid at a plane solid boundary is shown to obey a simple law.     

Linear stability of supersonic Couette flow of a molecular gas under the conditions of viscous stratification and excitation of the vibrational mode

The linear stability of viscous two-dimensional perturbations in the supersonic plane Couette flow of perfect and vibrationally excited gases is investigated. In both cases an alternative is considered so that the transport coefficients were taken either constant or dependent on the static flow temperature. The Sutherland model is used to take the temperature dependence of the shear viscosity into account. It is shown that “viscous” stratification increases considerably the flow stability as compared with the case of constant viscosity. At the same time, the simple constant viscosity model conserves all characteristic features of the development of viscous perturbations in the Sutherland model. The dissipation effect of excitation of the vibrational mode is conserved in taking the temperature dependence of the transport coefficients into account. For both models the corresponding increase in the critical Reynolds number is of approximately 12%.     

Finite volume computation of the turbulent flow over a hill employing 2D or 3D non-orthogonal collocated grid systems

A general numerical method for the solution of the complete Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations for 2D or 3D flows is described. The method uses non-orthogonal co-ordinates, Cartesian velocity components and a pressure-velocity-coupling algorithm adequate for non-staggered grid systems. The capability of the method and the overall performance of the κ–? eddy viscosity model are demonstrated by calculations of 2D and 3D flow over a hill. Solution error estimations based on fine grids, e.g. 320 × 192 control volumes, together with comparisons with standard turbulence model modifications, low-Reynoldsnumber or streamline curvature effects, have allowed the investigation of model drawbacks in predicting turbulent flows over surface-mounted hills.     

Subgrid-scale modelling at low mesh reynolds number

Subgrid-scale models are derived for large-eddy simulations in the limit of low mesh Reynolds number, or, equivalently, resolution approaching that required for full resolution of the simulated turbulent flow. The models are constructed from standard forms of the dissipation spectrum in a manner analogous to that used to derive the classical Smagorinsky-Lilly model from the inertial range spectrum. Practical methods for computing the subgrid-scale eddy viscosity are described, together with examples of the effects of using such models in a real simulation.     

Computational fluid dynamics applied to internal gas-turbine blade cooling: a review

This paper reviews current capabilities for predicting flow in the cooling passages and cavities of jet engines. Partly because of the need to enhance heat transfer coefficients, these flow domains entail complicated passage shapes where the flow is turbulent, strongly three-dimensional (3-D) and where flow separation and impingement, complicated by strong effects of rotation, pose severe challenges for the modeler. This flow complexity means that more elaborate models of turbulent transport are needed than in other areas of turbine flow analysis. The paper attempts to show that progress is being made, particularly in respect to the flow in serpentine blade-cooling passages. The first essential in modeling such flows is to adopt a low Reynolds number model for the sublayer region. The usual industrial practice of using wall functions cannot give a better than qualitative account of effects of rotation and curvature. It is shown that Rayleigh number effects can modify heat transfer coefficients in the cooling passages by at least 50%. The use of second-moment closure in the modeling is shown to be bringing marked improvements in the quality of predictions. Areas where, at present, more computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications are encouraged are impingement cooling and pin-fin studies.     

A new strategy for the numerical modeling of a weld pool

Welding processes involve high temperatures and metallurgical and mechanical consequences that must be controlled. For this purpose, numerical simulations have been developed to study the effects of the process on the final structure. During the welding process, the material undergoes thermal cycles that can generate different physical phenomena, like phase changes, microstructure changes and residual stresses and distortions. But the accurate simulation of transient temperature distributions in the part needs to carefully take account of the fluid flow in the weld pool. The aim of this paper is thus to propose a new approach for such a simulation taking account of surface tension effects (including both the “curvature effect” and the “Marangoni effect”), buoyancy forces and free surface motion.The proposed approach is validated by two numerical tests from the literature: a sloshing test and a plate subjected to a static heat source. Then, the effects of the fluid flow on temperature distributions are discussed in a hybrid laser/arc welding example.     

Explicit algebraic stress modelling of homogeneous and inhomogeneous flows

Capability of the explicit algebraic stress models to predict homogeneous and inhomogeneous shear flows are examined. The importance of the explicit solution of the production to dissipation ratio is first highlighted by examining the algebraic stress models performance at purely irrotational strain conditions. Turbulent recirculating flows within sudden expanding pipes are further simulated with explicit algebraic stress model and anisotropic eddy viscosity model. Both models predict better stress–strain interactions, showing reasonable shear layer developments. The anisotropic stress field are also accurately predicted by the models, though the anisotropic eddy viscosity model of Craft et al. returns marginally better results. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Isolating curvature effects in computing wall-bounded turbulent flows

An adjoint optimization method is utilized to design an inviscid outer wall shape required for a turbulent flow field solution of the So–Mellor convex curved wall experiment using the Navier–Stokes equations. The associated cost function is the desired pressure distribution on the inner wall. Using this optimized wall shape with a Navier–Stokes method, the abilities of various turbulence models to simulate the effects of curvature without the complicating factor of streamwise pressure gradient are evaluated. The one-equation Spalart–Allmaras (SA) turbulence model overpredicts eddy viscosity, and its boundary layer profiles are too full. A curvature-corrected version of this model improves results, which are sensitive to the choice of a particular constant. An explicit algebraic stress model does a reasonable job predicting this flow field. However, results can be slightly improved by modifying the assumption on anisotropy equilibrium in the model's derivation. The resulting curvature-corrected explicit algebraic stress model (EASM) possesses no heuristic functions or additional constants. It slightly lowers the computed skin friction coefficient and the turbulent stress levels for this case, in better agreement with experiment. The effect on computed velocity profiles is minimal.     

Finite element solutions for laminar and turbulent compressible flow

The time-split finite element method is extended to compute laminar and turbulent flows with and without separation. The examples considered are the flows past trailing edges of a flat plate and a backward-facing step. Eddy viscosity models are used to represent effects of turbulence. It is found that the time-split method produces results in agreement with previous experimental and computational results. The eddy viscosity models employed are found to give accurate predictions in all regions of flow except downstream of reattachment.     

Determination of the thermal-conductivity coefficient and the viscosity coefficient of a gas on the basis of the model of absolutely elastic rotating spheres

We carry out calculations for the thermal-conductivity coefficient and also the coefficients of first viscosity and second viscosity for a new model of absolutely elastic spheres, which was introduced in [1]. This model together with the model of rough spheres is the simplest among the models taking into account the rotation of molecules, which allows us to comparatively easily obtain expressions for the phenomenological coefficients. The simplicity of the models is no obstacle to the application of these models to real gases. Thus the ratio of the specific heatsγ for these models is equal to 4/3. Examples of gases for which this ratio is closest to 4/3 are chlorine (γ=1.355), methane, and ammonia (γ= 1.310) [3]. Besides this, both of these models make it possible to obtain corrections for the rotation to the coefficient of second viscosity and of thermal conductivity. These corrections explain why the damping of sound waves in ammonia is approximately 5/3 of the damping that would occur in the presence of only ordinary viscosity and thermal conductivity [3].     

A crack in a perfect fluid

An analytic particular solution is obtained for a plane flow problem. The plane flow is forced in an incompressible perfect fluid by a rigid moving wall surrounding the fluid. The wall has the shape of an elliptic cylinder and rotates about its axis. It is found that, during the rotation of such a cylinder, there appears a “hanging” vortex sheet such that its intensity is directly proportional to the angular velocity of rotation.