Mathematical Perspectives on Large Eddy Simulation Models for Turbulent Flows

The main objective of this paper is to review and report on key mathematical issues related to the theory of Large Eddy Simulation of turbulent flows. We review several LES models for which we attempt to provide mathematical justifications. For instance, some filtering techniques and nonlinear viscosity models are found to be regularization techniques that transform the possibly ill-posed Navier-Stokes equation into a well-posed set of PDEs. Spectral eddy-viscosity methods are also considered. We show that these methods are not spectrally accurate, and, being quasi-linear, that they fail to be regularizations of the Navier-Stokes equations. We then propose a new spectral hyper-viscosity model that regularizes the Navier-Stokes equations while being spectrally accurate. We finally review scale-similarity models and two-scale subgrid viscosity models. A new energetically coherent scale-similarity model is proposed for which the filter does not require any commutation property nor solenoidality of the advection field. We also show that two-scale methods are mathematically justified in the sense that, when applied to linear non-coercive PDEs, they actually yield convergence in the graph norm.     

Analytical and Numerical Results for the Rational Large Eddy Simulation Model

In this paper we analyze the Rational Large Eddy Simulation model. We start by introducing the system of partial differential equations we shall consider, together with its derivation. Then, we prove a result of full regularity for strong solutions in the space periodic setting. We also construct some exact solutions useful for the numerical benchmarking and finally we provide the results of some numerical experiments we performed.     

Global Strong Solutions for the Two-Dimensional Motion of an Infinite Cylinder in a Viscous Fluid

In this paper, we consider a two-dimensional fluid-rigid body problem. The motion of the fluid is modelled by the Navier-Stokes equations, whereas the dynamics of the rigid body is governed by the conservation laws of linear and angular momentum. The rigid body is supposed to be an infinite cylinder of circular cross-section. Our main result is the existence and uniqueness of global strong solutions.     

Artificial Boundary Conditions of Pressure Type for Viscous Flows in a System of Pipes

In a three-dimensional domain Ω with J cylindrical outlets to infinity the problem is treated how solutions to the stationary Stokes and Navier–Stokes system with pressure conditions at infinity can be approximated by solutions on bounded subdomains. The optimal artificial boundary conditions turn out to have singular coefficients. Existence, uniqueness and asymptotically precise estimates for the truncation error are proved for the linear problem and for the nonlinear problem with small data. The results include also estimates for the so called “do-nothing” condition.     

A Remark on the Existence of 2-D Steady Navier–Stokes Flow in Bounded Symmetric Domain Under General Outflow Condition

Let Ω be a 2-dimensional bounded domain, symmetric with respect to the x₂-axis. The boundary has several connected components, intersecting the x₂-axis. The boundary value is symmetric with respect to the x₂-axis satisfying the general outflow condition. The existence of the symmetric solution to the steady Navier–Stokes equations was established by Amick [2] and Fujita [4]. Fujita [4] proved a key lemma concerning the solenoidal extension of the boundary value by virtual drain method. In this note, we give a different proof via elementary approach by means of the stream function.     

On the Local Smoothness of Solutions of the Navier–Stokes Equations

We consider the Cauchy problem for incompressible Navier–Stokes equations with initial data in , and study in some detail the smoothing effect of the equation. We prove that for T < ∞ and for any positive integers n and m we have , as long as stays finite.     

Quasi-Stability of the Primary Flow in a Cone and Plate Viscometer

We investigate the flow between a shallow rotating cone and a stationary plate. This cone and plate device is used in rheometry, haemostasis as well as in food industry to study the properties of the flow w.r.t. shear stress. Physical experiments and formal computations show that close to the apex the flow is approximately azimuthal and the shear-stress is constant within the device, the quality of the approximation being controlled essentially by the single parameter Re ², where Re is the Reynolds number and the thinness of the cone-plate gap. We establish this fact by means of rigorous energy estimates and numerical simulations. Surprisingly enough, this approximation is valid though the primary flow is not itself a solution of the Navier-Stokes equations, and it does not even fulfill the correct boundary conditions, which are in this particular case discontinuous along a line, thus not allowing for a usual Leray solution. To overcome this difficulty we construct a suitable corrector.     

On a Serrin-Type Regularity Criterion for the Navier–Stokes Equations in Terms of the Pressure

We prove a Serrin-type regularity result for Leray–Hopf solutions to the Navier–Stokes equations, extending a recent result of Zhou [28].     

Blow-up Solutions Appearing in the Vorticity Dynamics with Linear Strain

We consider a model equation for 3D vorticity dynamics of incompressible viscous fluid proposed by K. Ohkitani and the second author of the present paper. We prove that a solution blows up in finite time if the -norm of the initial vorticity is greater than the viscosity.     

Existence of Singular Self-Similar Solutions of the Three-Dimensional Euler Equations in a Bounded Domain

A self-similar solution of the three-dimensional (3d) incompressible Euler equations is defined byu(x,t) =U(y)/t*-t) ^{α, y = x/(t* ~ t)β,α,β>} 0, whereU(y) satisfiesζU + βy. ΔU + U. VU + VP = 0,divU = 0. For α = β = 1/2, which is the limiting case of Leray’s self-similar Navier—Stokes equations, we prove the existence of(U,P) ε H³(Ω,R³ X R) in a smooth bounded domain Ω, with the inflow boundary data of non-zero vorticity. This implies the possibility that solutions of the Euler equations blow up at a timet = t*, t* < +∞.     

Stokes and Navier–Stokes Equations with Robin Boundary Conditions in a Half-Space

We study the initial-boundary value problem for the Stokes equations with Robin boundary conditions in the half-space It is proved that the associated Stokes operator is sectorial and admits a bounded H^∞-calculus on As an application we prove also a local existence result for the nonlinear initial value problem of the Navier–Stokes equations with Robin boundary conditions.     

Second Order Adaptive Boundary Conditions for Exterior Flow Problems: Non-Symmetric Stationary Flows in Two Dimensions

We consider the problem of solving numerically the stationary incompressible Navier–Stokes equations in an exterior domain in two dimensions. For numerical purposes we truncate the domain to a finite sub-domain, which leads to the problem of finding so called “artificial boundary conditions” to replace the boundary conditions at infinity. To solve this problem we construct – by combining results from dynamical systems theory with matched asymptotic expansion techniques based on the old ideas of Goldstein and Van Dyke – a smooth divergence free vector field depending explicitly on drag and lift and describing the solution to second and dominant third order, asymptotically at large distances from the body. The resulting expression appears to be new, even on a formal level. This improves the method introduced by the authors in a previous paper and generalizes it to non-symmetric flows. The numerical scheme determines the boundary conditions and the forces on the body in a self-consistent way as an integral part of the solution process. When compared with our previous paper where first order asymptotic expressions were used on the boundary, the inclusion of second and third order asymptotic terms further reduces the computational cost for determining lift and drag to a given precision by typically another order of magnitude. Peter Wittwer: Supported in part by the Fonds National Suisse.     

Interior Differentiability of Weak Solutions to the Equations of Stationary Motion of a Class of Non-Newtonian Fluids

In this paper, we consider weak solutions to the equations of stationary motion of a class of non-Newtonian fluids the constitutive law of which includes the power law model as special case. We prove the existence of second order derivatives of weak solutions to these equations.     

Steady Flows of Shear-Dependent Oldroyd-B Fluids around an Obstacle

This work is concerned with the study of steady flows of an incompressible viscoelastic fluid of Oldroyd type, with viscosity depending on the second invariant of the rate of deformation tensor in an exterior domain. We establish a result of existence and uniqueness of strong solutions for sufficiently small data and give estimates relating these solutions to those of the corresponding generalized Newtonian fluid.     

Vorticity and Regularity for Viscous Incompressible Flows under the Dirichlet Boundary Condition. Results and Related Open Problems

In reference [7] it is proved that the solution of the evolution Navier–Stokes equations in the whole of R ³ must be smooth if the direction of the vorticity is Lipschitz continuous with respect to the space variables. In reference [5] the authors improve the above result by showing that Lipschitz continuity may be replaced by 1/2-H?lder continuity. A central point in the proofs is to estimate the integral of the term (ω · ∇)u · ω, where u is the velocity and ω = ∇ × u is the vorticity. In reference [4] we extend the main estimates on the above integral term to solutions under the slip boundary condition in the half-space R ₊³. This allows an immediate extension to this problem of the 1/2-H?lder sufficient condition. The aim of these notes is to show that under the non-slip boundary condition the above integral term may be estimated as well in a similar, even simpler, way. Nevertheless, without further hypotheses, we are not able now to extend to the non slip (or adherence) boundary condition the 1/2-H?lder sufficient condition. This is not due to the “nonlinear" term (ω · ∇)u · ω but to a boundary integral which is due to the combination of viscosity and adherence to the boundary. On the other hand, by appealing to the properties of Green functions, we are able to consider here a regular, arbitrary open set Ω.      

On the Existence of Strong Solutions to a Coupled Fluid-Structure Evolution Problem

We consider here a model of fluid-structure evolution problem which, in particular, has been largely studied from the numerical point of view. We prove the existence of a strong solution to this problem.     

A Curious Phenomenon in a Model Problem,Suggestive of the Hydrodynamic Inertial Range and Smallest Scale of Motion

We consider a certain infinite system of ordinary differential equations, regarded as a highly simplified model of how energy might be passed up the spectrum in the Navier-Stokes equations, into the smaller scales of motion. Numerical experiments with this system of equations reveal a very striking inertial range and smallest scale phenomenon. In the case of steady data, the solution tends to a steady state in which the decay, as a function of mode number, is nearly linear until it reaches a very small value, beyond which it decays at a doubly exponential rate. This change in the character of the decay occurs in a sharply defined range of one or two mode numbers, effectively defining a largest significant mode number, which would translate in the spectral analogy to a smallest significant length scale. The first objective of this paper is a formulation and proof of what is observed in this experiment, especially concerning the decay of steady solutions with respect to mode number. Although similar numerical experiments with nonsteady data give convincing evidence of the same smallest scale phenomenon, some of our methods of proof for steady solutions do not generalize to nonstationary solutions. Consequently, our results for nonstationary solutions are less complete than for steady solutions. But, at the same time, their proofs seem more relevant to the Navier-Stokes equations. We conclude by describing and conjecturing about the results of further experiments with related equations, in which the coefficients are varied or the viscosity is set equal to zero. The ultimate objective of this paper is to begin a rigorous investigation of smallest scale phenomena in simple model problems, hoping for insights and generalizations that might be applied to the Navier-Stokes equations.     

Existence of Weak Solutions for the Unsteady Interaction of a Viscous Fluid with an Elastic Plate

The purpose of this work is to study the existence of solutions for an unsteady fluid-structure interaction problem. We consider a three-dimensional viscous incompressible fluid governed by the Navier–Stokes equations, interacting with a flexible elastic plate located on one part of the fluid boundary. The fluid domain evolves according to the structure’s displacement, itself resulting from the fluid force. We prove the existence of at least one weak solution as long as the structure does not touch the fixed part of the fluid boundary. The same result holds also for a two-dimensional fluid interacting with a one-dimensional membrane.     

Existence Result for a Radionuclide Transport Model with Unbounded Viscosity

We consider a model describing compressible nuclear waste disposal contamination in porous media. The transport of brine, radionuclides and heat is described by a nonlinear coupled parabolic system. The viscosity of the fluid is unbounded and concentrations and temperature dependent. Using a fixed point approach, we prove existence of physically relevant weak solutions.     

Density-Dependent Incompressible Fluids in Bounded Domains

This paper is devoted to the study of the initial value problem for density dependent incompressible viscous fluids in a bounded domain of with boundary. Homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions are prescribed on the velocity. Initial data are almost critical in term of regularity: the initial density is in W^1,q for some q > N, and the initial velocity has fractional derivatives in L^r for some r > N and arbitrarily small. Assuming in addition that the initial density is bounded away from 0, we prove existence and uniqueness on a short time interval. This result is shown to be global in dimension N = 2 regardless of the size of the data, or in dimension N ≥ 3 if the initial velocity is small. Similar qualitative results were obtained earlier in dimension N = 2, 3 by O. Ladyzhenskaya and V. Solonnikov in [18] for initial densities in W^1,∞ and initial velocities in with q > N.