Direct numerical simulation of the two-dimensional speed bump flow at increasing Reynolds numbers

The Speed Bump flow model was designed by Boeing to provide a mildly three-dimensional flow with separation from a very smooth surface, strongly controlled by the turbulence. Experiments are conducted by several teams, as are simulations, over a range of Reynolds numbers. Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) are not possible for the full 3D geometry of width L, leading several groups to conduct DNS over a two-dimensional geometry, in other words the cross-section of the full geometry, with periodic lateral conditions and a typical domain width of 0.04L. This does not allow precise comparisons with experiment, but code-to-code comparison is instructive. A shallow separation bubble is present, as intended. The domain width becomes marginal after reattachment, where the boundary layer is much thicker. The Reynolds number based on L has been 10⁶, so far in the literature, which causes partial relaminarization and tends to defeat the purpose of testing turbulence models. Flow visualisation is clear on this. Here, we present results at the Reynolds number 10⁶ and 1.4 × 10⁶, and the higher value essentially eliminates relaminarization. Detailed results are shown, including studies of domain width, grid resolution, and numerical dissipation. The turbulence models give inaccurate results for skin friction, already in the intense favourable pressure gradient, which causes the formation of an internal boundary layer; the separation prediction on the other hand is reasonable. The wall curvature seems to play a role. The present results also provide trustworthy data to test Large-Eddy Simulation (LES), especially if using a Wall Model (WMLES). The comparisons will have a preliminary character until the results of the ongoing detailed experiments and of DNS at even higher Reynolds number and with a wider domain are available and carefully compared.     

Parallel FEM LES with one-equation subgrid-scale model for incompressible flows

This article develops a parallel large-eddy simulation (LES) with a one-equation subgrid-scale (SGS) model based on the Galerkin finite element method and three-dimensional (3D) brick elements. The governing filtered Navier–Stokes equations were solved by a second-order accurate fractional-step method, which decomposed the implicit velocity–pressure coupling in incompressible flow and segregated the solution to the advection and diffusion terms. The transport equation for the SGS turbulent kinetic energy was solved to calculate the SGS processes. This FEM LES model was applied to study the turbulence of the benchmark open channel flow at a Reynolds number Re_τ = 180 (based on the friction velocity and channel height) using different model constants and grid resolutions. By comparing the turbulence statistics calculated by the current model with those obtained from direct numerical simulation (DNS) and experiments in literature, an optimum set of model constants for the current FEM LES model was established. The budgets of turbulent kinetic energy and vertical Reynolds stress were then analysed for the open channel flow. Finally, the flow structures were visualised to further reveal some important characteristics. It was demonstrated that the current model with the optimum model constants can predict well the organised structure near the wall and free surface, and can be further applied to other fundamental and engineering applications.     

Subgrid-scale contributions to Lagrangian time correlations in isotropic turbulence

The application of large-eddy simulation （LES） to particle-laden turbulence raises such a fundamental question as whether the LES with a subgrid scale （SGS） model can correctly predict Lagrangian time correlations （LTCs）. Most of the currently existing SGS models are constructed based on the energy budget equations. Therefore, they are able to correctly predict energy spectra, but they may not ensure the correct prediction on the LTCs. Previous researches investigated the effect of the SGS modeling on the Eulerian time correlations. This paper is devoted to study the LTCs in LES. A direct numerical simulation （DNS） and the LES with a spectral eddy viscosity model are performed for isotropic turbulence and the LTCs are calculated using the passive vector method. Both a priori and a posteriori tests are carried out. It is observed that the subgrid;scale contributions to the LTCs cannot be simply ignored and the LES overpredicts the LTCs than the DNS. It is concluded from the straining hypothesis that an accurate prediction of enstrophy spectra is most critical to the prediction of the LTCs.     

Turbulence Resolution Scale Dependence in Large-Eddy Simulations of a Jet Flame

The explicit dependence of LES fields on the turbulence resolution scale Δ implies that LES statistics usually vary with Δ and exhibit different convergence behaviors for different types of statistics, flow variables and subgrid LES models. The present work compares the performance of two popular subgrid models—the dynamic Smagorinsky model and the Vreman model—based on the convergence of their LES statistics with respect to Δ for a piloted methane-air (Sandia D) flame. The Δ-dependence of the LES statistics is studied based on five grids with progressively increased resolution ranging from 3 × 10⁵ to about 10.4 × 10⁶ cells. The simulation results show that the resolved velocity statistics converge for the finest grids with some weak Δ-dependence observed in the variance fields. The mixture fraction statistics are found to be more sensitive to the turbulence resolution scale upstream in the flame signifying the importance of the estimation of the Δ-invariant LES statistics at the DNS limit. For the considered flame the Vreman subgrid model exhibits good performance with the statistics being very close to those given by the dynamic Smagorinsky model, and being rather insensitive to a choice of the model constant.     

Large Eddy Simulations Using an Unstructured Grid Compressible Navier - Stokes Algorithm

Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of the decay of isotropic turbulence and of channel flow has been performed using an explicit second-order unstructured grid algorithm for tetrahedral cells. The algorithm solves for cell-averaged values using the finite volume form of the unsteady compressible Jittered Navier-Stokes equations. The inviscid fluxes are obtained from Godunov's exact Riemann solver. Reconstruction of the flow variables to the left and right sides of each face is performed using least squares or Frink's method. The viscous fluxes and heat transfer are obtained by application of Gauss' theorem. LES of the decay of nearly incompressible isotropic turbulence has been performed using two models for the SGS stresses: the Monotone Integrated Large Eddy Simulation (MILES) approach, wherein the inherent numerical dissipation models the sub-grid scale (SGS) dissipation, and the Smagorinsky SGS model. The results using the MILES approach with least squares reconstruction show good agreement with incompressible experimental data. The contribution of the Smagorinsky SGS model is negligible. LES of turbulent channel flow was performed at a Reynolds number (based on channel height and bulk velocity) of 5600 and Mach number of 0.5 (at which compressibility effects are minimal) using Smagorinsky's SGS model with van Driest damping. The results show good agreement with experimental data and direct numerical simulations for incompressible channel flow. The SGS eddy viscosity is less than 10% of the molecular viscosity, and therefore the LES is effectively MILES with molecular viscosity.     

Direct Numerical Simulation of Turbulent Flow over a Rectangular Trailing Edge

This paper describes a direct numerical simulation (DNS) study of turbulent flow over a rectangular trailing edge at a Reynolds number of 1000, based on the freestream quantities and the trailing edge thickness h; the incoming boundary layer displacement thickness δ^* is approximately equal to h. The time-dependent inflow boundary condition is provided by a separate turbulent boundary layer simulation which is in good agreement with existing computational and experimental data. The turbulent trailing edge flow simulation is carried out using a parallel multi-block code based on finite difference methods and using a multi-grid Poisson solver. The turbulent flow in the near-wake region of the trailing edge has been studied first for the effects of domain size and grid resolution. Then two simulations with a total of 256 × 512 × 64 (∼ 8.4×10⁶) and 512 × 1024 × 128 (∼ 6.7×10⁷) grid points in the computational domain are carried out to investigate the key flow features. Visualization of the instantaneous flow field is used to investigate the complex fluid dynamics taking place in the near-wake region; of particular importance is the interaction between the large-scale spanwise, or Kármán, vortices and the small-scale quasi-streamwise vortices contained within the inflow boundary layer. Comparisons of turbulence statistics including the mean flow quantities are presented, as well as the pressure distributions over the trailing edge. A spectral analysis applied to the force coefficient in the wall normal direction shows that the main shedding frequency is characterized by a Strouhal number based on h of approximately 0.118. Finally, the turbulence kinetic energy budget is analysed. Received 4 March 1999 and accepted 27 October 2000     

LES and RANS for Turbulent Flow over Arrays of Wall-Mounted Obstacles

Large-eddy simulation (LES) has been applied to calculate the turbulent flow over staggered wall-mounted cubes and staggered random arrays of obstacles with area density 25%, at Reynolds numbers between 5 × 10³ and 5 10⁶, based on the free stream velocity and the obstacle height. Re = 5 × 10³ data were intensively validated against direct numerical simulation (DNS) results at the same Re and experimental data obtained in a boundary layer developing over an identical roughness and at a rather higher Re. The results collectively confirm that Reynolds number dependency is very weak, principally because the surface drag is predominantly form drag and the turbulence production process is at scales comparable to the roughness element sizes. LES is thus able to simulate turbulent flow over the urban-like obstacles at high Re with grids that would be far too coarse for adequate computation of corresponding smooth-wall flows. Comparison between LES and steady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) results are included, emphasising that the latter are inadequate, especially within the canopy region.     

旋转圆管湍流的大涡模拟数值研究

采用大涡模拟（LES）方法,并结合动力学亚格子尺度应力（SGS）模型,通过数值求解柱坐标系下的滤波Navier-Stokes方程,研究了绕管轴旋转圆管内的湍流流动特性.为验证计算的可靠性,以及动力学SGS模型对于旋转湍流的适用性,将大涡模拟计算所得的结果,与相应的直接模拟（DNS）结果和实验数据进行了对比验证,吻合良好.进一步对旋转圆管湍流的物理机理进行了探讨,研究了湍流特性随旋转速率的变化规律.当旋转速率增加时,湍流流动有层流化的发展趋势.基于湍动能变化的关系,分析了旋转效应对湍流脉动生成的抑制作用.     

Uncertainty quantification in LES of channel flow

In this paper, we present a Bayesian framework for estimating joint densities for large eddy simulation (LES) sub‐grid scale model parameters based on canonical forced isotropic turbulence direct numerical simulation (DNS) data. The framework accounts for noise in the independent variables, and we present alternative formulations for accounting for discrepancies between model and data. To generate probability densities for flow characteristics, posterior densities for sub‐grid scale model parameters are propagated forward through LES of channel flow and compared with DNS data. Synthesis of the calibration and prediction results demonstrates that model parameters have an explicit filter width dependence and are highly correlated. Discrepancies between DNS and calibrated LES results point to additional model form inadequacies that need to be accounted for. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

LES-based filter-matrix lattice Boltzmann model for simulating fully developed turbulent channel flow

In this paper, a three-dimensional filter-matrix lattice Boltzmann (FMLB) model based on large eddy simulation (LES) was verified for simulating wall-bounded turbulent flows. The Vreman subgrid-scale model was employed in the present FMLB–LES framework, which had been proved to be capable of predicting turbulent near-wall region accurately. The fully developed turbulent channel flows were performed at a friction Reynolds number Re_τ of 180. The turbulence statistics computed from the present FMLB–LES simulations, including mean stream velocity profile, Reynolds stress profile and root-mean-square velocity fluctuations greed well with the LES results of multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) LB model, and some discrepancies in comparison with those direct numerical simulation (DNS) data of Kim et al. was also observed due to the relatively low grid resolution. Moreover, to investigate the influence of grid resolution on the present LES simulation, a DNS simulation on a finer gird was also implemented by present FMLB–D3Q19 model. Comparisons of detailed computed various turbulence statistics with available benchmark data of DNS showed quite well agreement.     

Study of numerical errors in direct numerical simulation and large eddy simulation

By comparing the energy spectrum and total kinetic energy, the effects of numerical errors (which arise from aliasing and discretization errors), subgrid-scale (SGS) models, and their interactions on direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large eddy simulation (LES) are investigated. The decaying isotropic turbulence is chosen as the test case. To simulate complex geometries, both the spectral method and Pade compact difference schemes are studied. The truncated Navier-Stokes (TNS) equation model with Pade discrete filter is adopted as the SGS model. It is found that the discretization error plays a key role in DNS. Low order difference schemes may be unsuitable. However, for LES, it is found that the SGS model can represent the effect of small scales to large scales and dump the numerical errors. Therefore, reasonable results can also be obtained with a low order discretization scheme.     

Assessment of Five SGS Models for Low-Rem MHD Turbulence

Assessment of three regularization-based and two eddy-viscosity-based subgrid-scale (SGS) turbulence models for large eddy simulations (LES) are carried out in the context of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) decaying homogeneous turbulence (DHT) with a Taylor scale Reynolds number (Re_λ) of 120 and a MHD transition-to-turbulence Taylor-Green vortex (TGV) problems with a Reynolds number of 3000, through direct comparisons to direct numerical simulations (DNS). Simulations are conducted using the low-magnetic Reynolds number approximation (Re_m<<1). LES predictions using the regularization-based Leray- α,LANS- α, and Clark- α SGS models, along with the eddy viscosity-based non-dynamic Smagorinsky and the dynamic Smagorinsky models are compared to in-house DNS for DHT and previous results for TGV. With regard to the regularization models, this work represents their first application to MHD turbulence. Analyses of turbulent kinetic energy decay rates, energy spectra, and vorticity fields made between the varying magnetic field cases demonstrated that the regularization models performed poorly compared to the eddy-viscosity models for all MHD cases, but the comparisons improved with increase in magnitude of magnetic field, due to a decrease in the population of SGS eddies within the flow field.     

Numerical Simulation of Single-Stream Jets from a Serrated Nozzle

Hybrid large-eddy type simulations for cold jet flows from a serrated nozzle are performed at an acoustic Mach number Ma _ac ?=?0.9 and Re?=?1.03×10⁶. Since the solver being used tends towards having dissipative qualities, the subgrid scale (SGS) model is omitted, giving a numerical type LES (NLES) or implicit LES (ILES) reminiscent procedure. To overcome near wall streak resolution problems a near wall RANS (Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes) model is smoothly blended to the LES making a hybrid RANS-ILES. The geometric complexity of the serrated nozzle is fully considered without simplification or emulation. An improved but still modest hexahedral multi-block grid with circa 20 million grid points (with respect to 12.5 million in Xia et al., Int J Heat Fluid Flow 30:1067–1079, 2009) is used. Despite the modest grid size, encouraging and improved results are obtained. Directly resolved mean and second-order fluctuating quantities along the jet centerline and in the jet shear layer compare favorably with measurements. The radiated far-field sound predicted using the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) surface integral method shows good agreement with the measurements in directivity and sound spectra.     

基于人工神经网络的亚格子应力建模

亚格子(SGS)应力建模在湍流大涡模拟(LES)中有着极为重要的作用. 传统亚格子应力模型存在相对误差较大、耗散过强等问题. 近年来, 计算机技术的发展使得人工神经网络(ANN)等机器学习方法逐渐成为亚格子应力建模型的新研究范式. 本文着重考虑滤波宽度及雷诺数影响, 在不可压缩槽道湍流中建立了亚格子应力的ANN模型. 该模型以滤波后的直接数值模拟(fDNS)流场物理量及滤波尺度为输入信息, 相应滤波尺度下的亚格子应力为输出量. 通过对不同滤波尺度及不同雷诺数数据的训练, ANN模型能够给出与直接数值模拟(DNS)高度吻合的亚格子应力. 此外, 模型在亚格子耗散等非ANN建模量上也有着优异的预测性能, 与基于DNS获得的对应物理量的相关系数大都在0.9以上, 较梯度模型及Smagorinsky模型有明显提升. 在后验测试中, ANN模型对流向平均速度剖面的预测同样优于梯度模型、Smagorinsky模型及隐式大涡模拟(ILES)等传统LES模型. 在脉动速度均方根预测方面, 除了某些法向位置外ANN模型的性能整体上相对其他3个模型有所提升. 然而, 随着网格尺度的增大ANN模型预测的结果与fDNS结果的偏差逐渐增大. 总之, ANN方法在发展高精度亚格子应力模型上具有很大的潜力.      

Parameter-free numerical method for modeling thermal convection in square cavities in a wide range of Rayleigh numbers

Some numerical results for the two- and three-dimensional de Vahl Davis benchmark are presented. This benchmark describes thermal convection in a square (cubic) cavity with vertical heated walls in a wide range of Rayleigh numbers (10⁴ to 10¹⁴), which covers both laminar and highly turbulent f lows. Turbulent f lows are usually described using a turbulence model with parameters that depend on the Rayleigh number and require adjustment. An alternative is Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) methods, but they demand extremely large computational grids. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in DNS methods with an incomplete resolution, which, in some cases, are able to provide acceptable results without resolving Kolmogorov scales. On the basis of this approach, the so-called parameter-free computational techniques have been developed. These methods cover a wide range of Rayleigh numbers and allow computing various integral properties of heat transport on relatively coarse computational grids. In this paper, a new numerical method based on the CABARET scheme is proposed for solving the Navier–Stokes equations in the Boussinesq approximation. This technique does not involve a turbulence model or any tuning parameters and has a second-order approximation scheme in time and space on uniform and nonuniform grids with a minimal computational stencil. Testing the technique on the de Vahl Davis benchmark and a sequence of refined grids shows that the method yields integral heat f luxes with a high degree of accuracy for both laminar and highly turbulent f lows. For Rayleigh numbers up to 10¹⁴, a several percent accuracy is achieved on an extremely coarse grid consisting of 20 × 20 cells refined toward the boundary. No definite or comprehensive explanation of this computational phenomenon has been given. Cautious optimism is expressed regarding the perspectives of using the new method for thermal convection computations at low Prandtl numbers typical of liquid metals.     

Surface‐sampled simulations of turbulent flow at high Reynolds number

A new approach to turbulence simulation, based on a combination of large eddy simulation (LES) for the whole flow and an array of non–space‐filling quasi‐direct numerical simulations (QDNS), which sample the response of near‐wall turbulence to large‐scale forcing, is proposed and evaluated. The technique overcomes some of the cost limitations of turbulence simulation, since the main flow is treated with a coarse‐grid LES, with the equivalent of wall functions supplied by the near‐wall sampled QDNS. Two cases are tested, at friction Reynolds number Re_τ=4200 and 20000. The total grid point count for the first case is less than half a million and less than 2 million for the second case, with the calculations only requiring a desktop computer. A good agreement with published direct numerical simulation (DNS) is found at Re_τ=4200, both in the mean velocity profile and the streamwise velocity fluctuation statistics, which correctly show a substantial increase in near‐wall turbulence levels due to a modulation of near‐wall streaks by large‐scale structures. The trend continues at Re_τ=20000, in agreement with experiment, which represents one of the major achievements of the new approach. A number of detailed aspects of the model, including numerical resolution, LES‐QDNS coupling strategy and subgrid model are explored. A low level of grid sensitivity is demonstrated for both the QDNS and LES aspects. Since the method does not assume a law of the wall, it can in principle be applied to flows that are out of equilibrium.     

Assessment of the modulated gradient model in decaying isotropic turbulence

A recently introduced nonlinear model undergoes evaluations based on two isotropic turbulent cases: a University of Wiscosion-Madison case at a moderate Reynolds number and a Johns Hopkins University case at a high Reynolds number. The model uses an estimation of the subgrid-scale (SGS) kinetic energy to model the magnitude of the SGS stress tensor, and uses the normalized velocity gradient tensor to model the structure of the SGS stress tensor. Testing is performed for the first case through a comparison between direct numerical simulation (DNS) results and large eddy simulation (LES) results regarding resolved kinetic energy and energy spectrum. In the second case, we examine the resolved kinetic energy, the energy spectrum, as well as other key statistics including the probability density functions of velocities and velocity gradients, the skewness factors, and the flatness factors. Simulations using the model are numerically stable, and results are satisfactorily compared with DNS results and consistent with statistical theories of turbulence.     

LES prediction of space-time correlations in turbulent shear flows

We compare the space-time correlations calculated from direct numerical simulation(DNS) and large-eddy simulation(LES) of turbulent channel flows.It is found from the comparisons that the LES with an eddy-viscosity subgrid scale(SGS) model over-predicts the space-time correlations than the DNS.The overpredictions are further quantified by the integral scales of directional correlations and convection velocities.A physical argument for the overprediction is provided that the eddy-viscosity SGS model alone does not includes the backscatter effects although it correctly represents the energy dissipations of SGS motions.This argument is confirmed by the recently developed elliptic model for space-time correlations in turbulent shear flows.It suggests that enstrophy is crucial to the LES prediction of spacetime correlations.The random forcing models and stochastic SGS models are proposed to overcome the overpredictions on space-time correlations.     

Large eddy simulation of complex turbulent flows: Physical aspects and research trends

In the current paper, we have primarily addressed one powerful simulation tool developed during the last decades—Large Eddy Simulation (LES), which is most suitable for unsteady three-dimensional complex turbulent flows in industry and natural environment. The main point in LES is that the large-scale motion is resolved while the small-scale motion is modeled or, in geophysical terminology, parameterized. With a view to devising a subgrid-scale(SGS) model of high quality, we have highlighted analyzing physical aspects in scale interaction and energy transfer such as dissipation, backscatter, local and non-local interaction, anisotropy and resolution requirement. They are the factors responsible for where the advantages and disadvantages in existing SGS models come from. A case study on LES of turbulence in vegetative canopy is presented to illustrate that LES model is more based on physical arguments. Then, varieties of challenging complex turbulent flows in both industry and geophysical fields in the near future are presented. In conclusion, we may say with confidence that new century shall see the flourish in the research of turbulence with the aid of LES combined with other approaches. The NSAF project supported by the NSFC and the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics (10176032)