Spectral structure of stratified turbulence: direct numerical simulations and predictions by large eddy simulation

Density stratification has a strong impact on turbulence in geophysical flows. Stratification changes the spatial turbulence spectrum and the energy transport and conversion within the spectrum. We analyze these effects based on a series of direct numerical simulations (DNS) of stratified turbulence. To facilitate simulations of real-world problems, which are usually beyond the reach of DNS, we propose a subgrid-scale turbulence model for large eddy simulations of stratified flows based on the Adaptive Local Deconvolution Method (ALDM). Flow spectra and integral quantities predicted by ALDM are in excellent agreement with direct numerical simulation. ALDM automatically adapts to strongly anisotropic turbulence and is thus a suitable tool for studying turbulent flow phenomena in atmosphere and ocean.     

Implicit large-eddy simulation applied to turbulent channel flow with periodic constrictions

The subgrid-scale (SGS) model in a large-eddy simulation (LES) operates on a range of scales which is marginally resolved by discretization schemes. Accordingly, the discretization scheme and the subgrid-scale model are linked. One can exploit this link by developing discretization methods from subgrid-scale models, or the converse. Approaches where SGS models and numerical discretizations are fully merged are called implicit LES (ILES). Recently, we have proposed a systematic framework for the design, analysis, and optimization of nonlinear discretization schemes for implicit LES. In this framework parameters inherent to the discretization scheme are determined in such a way that the numerical truncation error acts as a physically motivated SGS model. The resulting so-called adaptive local deconvolution method (ALDM) for implicit LES allows for reliable predictions of isotropic forced and decaying turbulence and of unbounded transitional flows for a wide range of Reynolds numbers. In the present paper, ALDM is evaluated for the separated flow through a channel with streamwise-periodic constrictions at two Reynolds numbers Re = 2,808 and Re = 10,595. We demonstrate that, although model parameters of ALDM have been determined for isotropic turbulence at infinite Reynolds number, it successfully predicts mean flow and turbulence statistics in the considered physically complex, anisotropic, and inhomogeneous flow regime. It is shown that the implicit model performs at least as well as an established explicit model.      

Large-eddy simulation of turbulent channel flow at transcritical states

We present well-resolved large-eddy simulations (LES) of a channel flow solving the fully compressible Navier–Stokes equations in conservative form. An adaptive look-up table method is used for thermodynamic and transport properties. A physically consistent subgrid-scale turbulence model is incorporated, that is based on the Adaptive Local Deconvolution Method (ALDM) for implicit LES. The wall temperatures are set to enclose the pseudo-boiling temperature at a supercritical pressure, leading to strong property variations within the channel geometry. The hot wall at the top and the cold wall at the bottom produce asymmetric mean velocity and temperature profiles which result in different momentum and thermal boundary layer thicknesses. Different turbulent Prandtl number formulations and their components are discussed in context of strong property variations.     

Large-eddy structures of turbulent swirling flows and methane-air swirling diffusion combustion

Turbulent swirling flows and methane-air swirling diffusion combustion are studied by large-eddy simulation (LES) using a Smagorinsky-Lilly subgrid scale turbulence model and a second-order moment (SOM) SGS combustion model, and also by RANS modeling using the Reynolds Stress equation model with the IPCM+wall and IPCM pressure-strain models and SOM combustion model. The LES statistical results for swirling flows give good agreement with the experimental results, indicating that the adopted subgrid-scale turbulence model is suitable for swirling flows. The LES instantaneous results show the complex vortex shedding pattern in swirling flows. The initially formed large vortex structures soon break up in swirling flows. The LES statistical results of combustion modeling are near the experimental results and are as good as the RANS-SOM modeling results. The LES results show that the size and range of large vortex structures in swirling combustion are different from those of isothermal swirling flows, and the chemical reaction is intensified by the large-eddy vortex structures. The project supported by the Special Funds for Major State Basic Research (G-1999-0222-07). The English text was polished by Keren Wang.     

Decaying homogeneous turbulence under strong density stratification at low-Prandtl number

The characteristics of decaying homogeneous turbulence under strong density stratification have been studied using direct numerical simulations. While our previous study dealt with rotating stratified turbulence, here we investigate the detailed flow structure of stratified turbulence without rotation especially at low-Prandtl number. By assuming a low-Prandtl-number fluid, e.g. liquid sodium: Pr ≈ 0.01, gallium: Pr ≈ 0.025, internal gravity waves are markedly attenuated due to the large thermal conductivity, and turbulence soon reaches a two-component state, where vertical energy, coupled with potential energy, significantly decays, and becomes negligible as observed experimentally (Praud et al. in J Fluid Mech 522:1–33, 2005). In the horizontal plane, there appear large-scale vortices with vertical vorticity, and those with the same sign of vorticity increase their horizontal length scale by merging with each other. In the vertical plane, highly sheared regions represented by horizontal vorticity also tend to horizontally increase their length scale and become layered structures by the combined effects of vortex coalescence and energy cascade into higher vertical wavenumbers.      

Large eddy simulation of separation control over a backward-facing step flow by suction

Separation control over a backward-facing step (BFS) flow by continuous suction was numerically investigated using the turbulence model of large eddy simulation (LES). The effect of suction control on the flow fields was scrutinised by altering the suction flow coefficient, and the results indicate that suction is not only very effective in shortening the reattachment length but also very influential in reducing the tangential velocity gradient and turbulence fluctuations of the reattached flows. With increasing increments of the absolute suction flow coefficient, the effect of suction control is more significant. Furthermore, the detailed flow fields (including the time-averaged stream and velocity fields) and turbulence characteristics (including the time-averaged resolved kinetic energy and RMS velocity) for the BFS models with or without suction are presented to discuss the mechanism of suction control. Comparisons of the time-averaged statistics between the numerical simulations and corresponding experiments are conducted, and it shows that the LES based on the dynamic kinetic energy subgrid-scale model (DKEM) can acquire exact results. Therefore, feasibility of the numerical methods to simulate suction-controlled models is validated.     

Response of the Sphere Wake to Freestream Fluctuations

Direct numerical simulations have been used to investigate the response of the wake of a sphere to freestream fluctuations. This study has been motivated by the need to understand particle-induced turbulence enhancement in particulate flows. A sequence of simulations of flow past a sphere have been carried out where the frequency and amplitude of the freestream fluctuations and the flow Reynolds number has been varied systematically. It has been suggested that turbulence enhancement is primarily caused by vortex shedding from particles (Gore and Crowe, 1989; Hetsroni, 1989). Our simulations of the forced wake indicate that turbulence enhancement may be attributed to natural vortex shedding only when the freestream fluctuation level is low and the Reynolds number is greater than about 300. In addition to natural vortex shedding, the current simulations also suggest another mechanism for turbulence enhancement. It is found that in the presence of freestream fluctuations, the wake behaves like an oscillator and returns large amounts of kinetic energy to the surrounding fluid at resonance. This mechanism is not associated with natural vortex shedding and is therefore capable of enhancing freestream turbulence even at Reynolds numbers less than 300. Simulations also indicate that when the turbulence intensity of the carrier fluid is high, this resonance mechanism might be solely responsible for turbulence enhancement. Finally, our simulations also suggest a possible explanation for the correlation between turbulence enhancement and the ratio of the particle size to the size of energy containing eddies of turbulence found by Gore and Crowe (1989). Received 5 October 1999 and accepted 14 October 1999     

Direct Numerical Simulation of Turbulence in a Stably Stratified Fluid and Wave-Shear Interaction

Turbulence decay in a strongly stratified medium is simulated by a direct pseudo-spectral code solving the three-dimensional equations of motion under the Boussinesq approximation. The results are compared to non-stratified simulations results. We focus on the production of mean shear energy observed in the stratified case. We then simulate the decay of stratified turbulence when affected by an initial horizontal mean flow and show that this mean flow is the major component remaining at large t. Next, we give some analytical elements on wave-shear interaction by using a simple refraction calculation with WKB hypothesis. This calculation is illustrated by simulating the interaction between one monochromatic internal wave and a vertical shear profile. We conclude that the existence of singularities in the mean shear production term in the presence of internal gravity waves may be one of the possible mechanisms involved within stratified turbulent shear flows.     

Linear Dynamics of Perturbations in Flows with Constant Horizontal Shear

The dynamics of perturbations in shallow water and incompressible stratified fluid flows with constant horizontal shear are described using the nonmodal analysis. It is shown that the shear flow perturbations can be divided into two classes on the basis of the potential vorticity: rapidly oscillating wave perturbations with zero potential vorticity and slow vortex perturbations with nonzero potential vorticity. In the cases of weak and strong shear the main features of the dynamics of wave and vortex perturbations are studied analytically (using the WKBG method) and numerically. It is shown that for large times the wave perturbation energy increases linearly, i.e., the shear flow is algebraically unstable due to the growth of rapid wave perturbations. This instability can be of importance in processes of turbulence development and surface and internal wave generation.     

基于人工神经网络的湍流大涡模拟方法

大涡模拟方法(LES)是研究复杂湍流问题的重要工具,在航空航天、湍流燃烧、气动声学、大气边界层等众多工程领域中具有广泛的应用前景.大涡模拟方法采用粗网格计算大尺度上的湍流结构,并用亚格子(SGS)模型近似表达滤波尺度以下的流动结构对大尺度流场的作用.传统的亚格子模型由于只利用了单点流场信息和简单的函数关系,在先验验证中相对误差较大, 在后验验证中耗散过强. 近几年来,机器学习方法在湍流建模问题中得到了越来越多的应用.本文介绍了基于人工神经网络(ANN)的湍流亚格子模型的最新进展.详细地讨论了人工神经网络混合模型、空间人工神经网络模型和反卷积人工神经网络模型的构造方法.借助于人工神经网络强大的数据插值能力,新的亚格子模型的先验精度和后验精度均有显著提升. 在先验验证中,新模型所预测的亚格子应力的相关系数超过了0.99,在预测精度上远高于传统的大涡模拟模型. 在后验验证中,新模型对各类湍流统计量和瞬态流动结构的预测都优于隐式大涡模拟方法、动态Smagorinsky模型、动态混合模型等传统模型.因此, 人工神经网络方法在发展复杂湍流的先进大涡模拟模型中具有很大的潜力.      

Vortex structures in geophysical convection

An intriguing variety of vortex structures arise during buoyant convection, especially in the presence of background stratification and rotation. These vortices play an important role in environmental fluid motions, bearing upon small-scale turbulence to planetary-scale circulation. A brief review of vortex motions associated with buoyant convection is presented in this paper, emphasizing the sources of vorticity, evolution of vortex structures and their role in oceanic and atmospheric dynamics. The genesis of a variety of vortices, for example, mushroom vortices, geostrophic and ageostrophic vortices, dipolar structures and hetons in buoyant convection flows is described, and parameterizations to represent their properties are discussed. New laboratory and numerical simulation results on vortex-related phenomena in stratified and rotating fluids and their implications in geophysical convective flows are also presented.     

Backscatter Models for Large-Eddy Simulations

Using previously established properties of nonlinear subgrid-scale interactions we derive deterministic models of backscatter for large-eddy simulations. The models provide approximately equal amounts of forward and inverse transfer and consequently affect only weakly the total kinetic energy of turbulence. The modeling procedures are tested on a simple case of forced isotropic turbulence with the inertial range and in turbulent channel flow. The presence of backscatter increases the physical realism of large-eddy simulations. Received: 24 January 1997 and accepted 20 March 1997     

Turbulence structure in a diabatically heated forest canopy composed of fractal Pythagoras trees

We investigate the turbulent flow through a heterogeneous forest canopy by high-resolution numerical modeling. For this purpose, a novel approach to model individual trees is implemented in our large-eddy simulation (LES). A group of sixteen fractal Pythagoras trees is placed in the computational domain and the tree elements are numerically treated as immersed boundaries. Our objective is to resolve the multiscale flow response starting at the diameter of individual tree elements up to the depth of the atmospheric surface layer. A reference run, conducted for the forest flow under neutral thermal stratification, produces physically meaningful turbulence statistics. Our numerical results agree quantitatively with data obtained from former field-scale LESs and wind tunnel experiments. Furthermore, the numerical simulations resolve vortex shedding behind individual branches and trunks as well as the integral response of the turbulent flow through the heterogeneous forest canopy. A focus is the investigation of the turbulence structure of the flow under stable thermal stratification and in response to the heating of the fractal tree crowns. For the stratified flows, statistical quantities, e.g. turbulent kinetic energy and vorticity, are presented and the turbulent exchange processes of momentum and heat are considered in detail. The onset and formation of coherent structures such as elevated shear layers above the diabatically heated forest canopy are analyzed. For the stably stratified flow, temperature ramps above the forest canopy were simulated in agreement with previous observations. Thermally driven vortices with a typical diameter of the canopy height were simulated when the tree crowns were diabatically heated. The impact of the coherent flow structures on the heat flux is investigated.     

非定常空化流动涡旋运动及其流体动力特性

采用大涡模拟方法对绕水翼云状空化的水动力特性和非定常流场结构进行研究. 基于实验结果对数值方法进行验证,分析空化与流场内部涡旋结构之间的相互作用以及对水翼动力特性的影响. 研究结果表明:大涡模拟方法可以准确模拟绕水翼流动的非定常过程. 在无空化条件下,升阻力系数存在斯特劳哈数St = 0.85 的主频波动,这是由水翼尾部涡旋结构的发展脱落引起的;在云状空化条件下,升阻力系数存在St = 0.34 的高能量密度低频波动,这是由大规模云状空泡团的发展和脱落引起的;云状空化阶段的升阻力系数在St = 0.5~1.5 的范围内都存在较高的波动,这是由于空化现象对水翼尾缘涡旋结构的发展和脱落产生影响,在不同发展阶段,空化现象不同程度地降低尾缘涡旋结构脱落频率.      

Progress in subgrid-scale transport modelling for continuous hybrid non-zonal RANS/LES simulations

The partially integrated transport modelling (PITM) method can be viewed as a continuous approach for hybrid RANS/LES modelling allowing seamless coupling between the RANS and the LES regions. The subgrid turbulence quantities are thus calculated from spectral equations depending on the varying spectral cutoff location [Schiestel, R., Dejoan, A., 2005. Towards a new partially integrated transport model for coarse grid and unsteady turbulent flow simulations. Theoretical and Computational Fluid Dynamics 18, 443–468; Chaouat, B., Schiestel, R., 2005. A new partially integrated transport model for subgrid-scale stresses and dissipation rate for turbulent developing flows. Physics of Fluids, 17 (6)] The PITM method can be applied to almost all statistical models to derive its hybrid LES counterpart. In the present work, the PITM version based on the transport equations for the turbulent Reynolds stresses together with the dissipation transport rate equation is now developed in a general formulation based on a new accurate energy spectrum function E(κ) valid in both large and small eddy ranges that allows to calibrate more precisely the c_sgs2 function involved in the subgrid dissipation rate _sgs transport equation. The model is also proposed here in an extended form which remains valid in low Reynolds number turbulent flows. This is achieved by considering a characteristic turbulence length-scale based on the total turbulent energy and the total dissipation rate taking into account the subgrid and resolved parts of the dissipation rate. These improvements allow to consider a large range of flows including various free flows as well as bounded flows. The present model is first tested on the decay of homogeneous isotropic turbulence by referring to the well known experiment of Comte-Bellot and Corrsin. Then, initial perturbed spectra E(κ) with a peak or a defect of energy are considered for analysing the model capabilities in strong non-equilibrium flow situations. The second test case is the classical fully turbulent channel flow that allows to assess the performance of the model in non-homogeneous flows characterised by important anisotropy effects. Different simulations are performed on coarse and refined meshes for checking the grid independence of solutions as well as the consistency of the subgrid-scale model when the filter width is changed. A special attention is devoted to the sharing out of the energy between the subgrid-scales and the resolved scales. Both the mean velocity and the turbulent stress computations are compared with data from direct numerical simulations.     

Assessment of Subgrid-Scale Models for Decaying Compressible MHD Turbulence

Large eddy simulation method is formulated for study of compressible magnetohydrodynamic turbulence and assessment of different subgrid-scale models as applied for decaying case is performed. The filtered equations of compressible magnetopause using the mass-weighted filtering operation are obtained. Mass-weighted filtered equations for large-scale turbulent component comprise subgrid-scale terms and five models for closure of the subgrid-scale terms are suggested. In present paper the obtained results of numerical computations for large eddy simulation are compared with the results of direct numerical simulation of three-dimensional compressible magnetohydrodynamic turbulence. Assessment of five subgrid-scale models of large eddy simulation for MHD flows is fulfilled. The comparisons between large eddy simulation and direct numerical simulation are carried out regarding the temporal evolution of the global quantities kinetic and magnetic energy, cross helicity and the spectra of kinetic and magnetic energy.     

On the interfacial roughness scale in turbulent stratified two-phase flow: 3D lattice Boltzmann numerical simulations with forced turbulence and surfactant

Numerical 3D simulations of turbulent, stratified two-phase shear flow with a surfactant laden interface were used to test and develop a phenomenological interfacial roughness scale model where the energy required to deform the interface (buoyancy, interfacial tension, and viscous work) is proportional to the turbulent kinetic energy adjacent to the interface.The turbulence was forced in the upper and lower liquids in the simulations, to emulate the interfacial dynamics without requiring (prohibitively) large simulation domains and Reynolds numbers. The addition of surfactant lead to an increased roughness scale (for the same turbulent kinetic energy) due to the introduction of interfacial dilatational elasticity that suppressed horizontal motion parallel to the interface, and enhanced the vertical motion.The phenomenological roughness scale model was not fully developed for dilatational elasticity in this work, but we proposed a source term that represents surfactant induced pressure fluctuations near the interface. This source term should be developed further to account for the relation between surfactant density fluctuations and turbulence adjacent to the interface. We foresee that the roughness scale model can be used as a basis for more general interfacial closure relations in Reynolds averaged turbulence models, where also mobile surfactant is accounted for.     

低密度流体界面不稳定性大涡模拟

采用拉伸涡亚格子尺度应力模型对湍流输运中的亚格子作用项进行模式化处理,发展了适用于可压多介质黏性流动和湍流的大涡模拟方法和代码MVFT（multi-viscous flow and turbulence）。利用MVFT代码对低密度流体界面不稳定性及其诱发的湍流混合问题进行了数值模拟。详细分析了扰动界面的发展,流场中冲击波的传播、相互作用、湍流混合区边界的演化规律,以及流场瞬时密度和湍动能的分布和发展。数值模拟获得的界面演化图像和流场中波系结构与实验结果吻合较好。三维和二维模拟结果的比较显示,两者得到的扰动界面位置、波系及湍流混合区边界基本一致,只是后期的界面构型有所不同,这也正说明湍流具有强三维效应。     

Subgrid length-scales for large-eddy simulation of stratified turbulence

The influence of buoyancy on the length-scales for the dissipation rate of kinetic energy, and for momentum, heat, and other scalar transport has to be known for subgrid-scale (SGS) models in a large-eddy simulation (LES). For the inertial subrange, Lilly (1967) has shown that grid spacing is the relevant length-scale for SGS effects. Deardorff (1980) proposed to reduce all the length-scales for stable stratification. Numerical and experimental data show, however, that the dissipation length-scale may strongly increase in stable layers with little shear. Lumley's (1964) theory for the energy spectrum in a stratified fluid also suggests such an increase. In this paper we apply the analysis of previous algebraic second-order closure SGS models, parameter studies with different length-scale models in LES, and the analysis of direct simulations of sheared and unsheared stably stratified homogeneous turbulence. These analyses show advantages of first-order closures for LES and suggest that the limiting effect of stratification should only be applied to the length-scales of vertical eddy-diffusivities of heat and scalars but not to those of momentum and dissipation.Dedicated to Professor J.L. Lumley on the occasion of his 60th birthday.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Vortex dynamics of a cylinder wake in proximity to a wall

Large-eddy simulations (LES) are used to investigate the modifications of wake dynamics and turbulence characteristics behind a circular cylinder placed near a wall for varying gap-to-diameter (G/D) ratios (where G signifies the gap between the wall and the cylinder, and D the cylinder diameter). The three-dimensional (3-D), time-dependent, incompressible Navier–Stokes equations with a dynamic subgrid-scale model are solved using a symmetry-preserving finite-difference scheme of second-order spatial and temporal accuracy. The immersed boundary (IB) method is employed to impose the no-slip boundary condition on the cylinder surface. Flow visualizations along with turbulence statistics are presented to gain insight into the flow structures that are due to interaction between the shear layers and the approaching boundary layer. Apart from the vortex shedding mechanism, the paper illustrates the physics involving the shear layer transition, stretching, breakdown and turbulence generation, either qualitatively or quantitatively, in the presence of a wall for a Reynolds number of Re=1440 (based on D and the inlet free-stream velocity U_∞).