Towards a Unified Turbulence Simulation Approach for Wall-Bounded Flows

A hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes/Large-Eddy Simulation (RANS/LES) methodology has received considerable attention in recent years, especially in its application to wall-bounded flows at high-Reynolds numbers. In the conventional zonal hybrid approach, eddy-viscosity-type RANS and subgrid scale models are applied in the RANS and LES zones, respectively. In contrast, the non-zonal hybrid approach uses only a generalized turbulence model, which provides a unified simulation approach that spans the continuous spectrum of modeling/simulation schemes from RANS to LES. A particular realization of the non-zonal approach, known as partially resolved numerical simulation (PRNS), uses a generalized turbulence model obtained from a rescaling of a conventional RANS model through the introduction of a resolution control function F _R , where F _R is used to characterize the degree of modeling required to represent the unresolved scales of turbulent motion. A new generalized functional form for F _R in PRNS is proposed in this study, and its performance is compared with unsteady RANS (URANS) and LES computations for attached and separated wall-bounded turbulent flows. It is demonstrated that PRNS behaves similarly to LES, but outperforms URANS in general.     

Hybrid Unsteady RANS and PDF Method for Turbulent Non-Reactive and Reactive Flows

A hybrid unsteady Reynolds-averaged numerical simulation (U-RANS) and probability density function (PDF) method is developed for turbulent non-reactive and reactive flows. The resulting modeled equations are solved by a consistent hybrid finite volume and Lagrangian Monte-Carlo particle method. Both turbulent non-reactive and reactive flows in a rectangular channel containing a triangular-shaped bluff-body are simulated. One-step and two-step mechanisms for propane/air combustion are used for the reactive case. The time-averaged results are compared with both experimental data and numerical results from the literature using large eddy simulation (LES) and steady RANS. The results of the present method are in good agreement with the experimental data, and they improve the numerical results available in the literature.     

Investigation of the sensitivity of turbulent closures and coupling of hybrid RANS‐LES models for predicting flow fields with separation and reattachment

Hybrid models have found widespread applications for simulation of wall‐bounded flows at high Reynolds numbers. Typically, these models employ Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) and large eddy simulation (LES) in the near‐body and off‐body regions, respectively. A number of coupling strategies between the RANS and LES regions have been proposed, tested, and applied in the literature with varying degree of success. Linear eddy‐viscosity models (LEVM) are often used for the closure of turbulent stress tensor in RANS and LES regions. LEVM incorrectly predicts the anisotropy of Reynolds normal stress at the RANS‐LES interface region. To overcome this issue, use of non‐linear eddy‐viscosity models (NLEVM) have started receiving attention. In this study, a generic non‐linear blended modeling framework for performing hybrid simulations is proposed. Flow over the periodic hills is used as the test case for model evaluation. This case is chosen due to complex flow physics with simplified geometry. Analysis of the simulations suggests that the non‐linear hybrid models show a better performance than linear hybrid models. It is also observed that the non‐linear closures are less sensitive to the RANS‐LES coupling and grid resolution. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

亚临界雷诺数下圆柱绕流的大涡模拟

本文应用Smagorinsky涡粘性模式和二阶精度的有限体积法对圆柱绕流的流场进行大涡模拟．求解了非正交曲线坐标系下的N-S方程,对雷诺数为100和20000的工况进行了计算．计算结果与实验及动力涡粘性模式的结果进行了比较,表明计算对于层流及高亚临界雷诺数的湍流流动是合理的     

Joint RANS/LES Approach to Premixed Flame Modelling in the Context of the TFC Combustion Model

We present an original timesaving joint RANS/LES approach to simulate turbulent premixed combustion. It is intended mainly for industrial applications where LES may not be practical. It is based on successive RANS/LES numerical modelling, where turbulent characteristics determined from RANS simulations are used in LES equations for estimation of the subgrid chemical source and viscosity. This approach has been developed using our TFC premixed combustion model, which is based on a generalization of the Kolmogorov’s ideas. We assume existence of small-scale statistically equilibrium structures not only of turbulence but also of the reaction zones. At the same time, non-equilibrium large-scale structures of reaction sheets and turbulent eddies are described statistically by model combustion and turbulence equations in RANS simulations or follow directly without modelling in LES. Assumption of small-scale equilibrium gives an opportunity to express the mean combustion rate (controlled by small-scale coupling of turbulence and chemistry) in the RANS and LES sub-problems in terms of integral or subgrid parameters of turbulence and the chemical time, i.e. the definition of the reaction rate is similar to that of the mean dissipation rate in turbulence models where it is expressed in terms of integral or subgrid turbulent parameters. Our approach therefore renders compatible the combustion and turbulent parts of the RANS and LES sub-problems and yields reasonable agreement between the RANS and averaged LES results. Combining RANS simulations of averaged fields with LES method (and especially coupled and acoustic codes) for simulation of corresponding nonstationary process (and unsteady combustion regimes) is a promising strategy for industrial applications. In this work we present results of simulations carried out employing the joint RANS/LES approach for three examples: High velocity premixed combustion in a channel, combustion in the shear flow behind an obstacle and the impinging flame (a premixed flame attached to an obstacle).     

An advanced switching parameter for a hybrid LES/RANS model considering the characteristics of near-wall turbulent length scales

In this study, we proposed an idea for an advanced switching parameter used in a hybrid approach connecting large eddy simulation (LES) with Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes modeling [the hybrid LES/RANS (HLR) model]. Although the HLR model is promising way to predict engineering turbulent flows, an important problem is that RANS is always adopted in the near-wall region, even if the grid resolution is fine enough for LES. To overcome this difficulty, the switching parameter proposed here introduced knowledge of the Kolmogorov microscale that is thought to be reasonable for representing the near-wall turbulence. This parameter enabled the present HLR model to be smoothly replaced by a full LES if a grid resolution was fine enough in the near-wall region. To confirm model performance, the present HLR model was applied to numerical simulations of a periodic hill flow as well as fundamental plane channel flows. The model generally provided reasonable predictions for these test cases that include complex turbulence with massive flow separation.     

An Attempt to Assess the Quality of Large Eddy Simulations in the Context of Implicit Filtering

While methods for assessing the uncertainty of Reynolds–Averaged–Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations have been well established in the past, the verification of Large Eddy Simulations (LES) is more difficult. One reason is that the numerical discretization error as well as the subgrid scale model contribution depend on the grid resolution and that both terms interact. In the present paper the accuracy of single-grid estimators to assess the amount of the unresolved turbulent kinetic energy is studied first. In the second part of the paper the sensitivity of the simulation results on the modeling error as well as the numerical error will be investigated in the context of LES with implicit filtering. This will be achieved by performing a systematic grid and model variation. The analysis is applied to an isothermal, turbulent, plane jet and a turbulent channel flow.     

Towards a new partially integrated transport model for coarse grid and unsteady turbulent flow simulations

A new two-equation model is proposed for large eddy simulations (LESs) using coarse grids. The modeled transport equations are obtained from a direct transposition of well-known statistical models by using multiscale spectrum splitting given by the filtering operation applied to the Navier–Stokes equations. The model formulation is compatible with the two extreme limits that are on one hand a direct numerical simulation and on the other hand a full statistical modeling. The characteristic length scale of subgrid turbulence is no longer given by the spatial discretization step size, but by the use of a dissipation equation. The proposed method is applied to a transposition of the well-known k- statistical model, but the same method can be developed for more advanced closures. This approach is intended to contribute to non-zonal hybrid models that bridge Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) and LES, by using a continuous change rather than matching zones. The main novelty in the model is the derivation of a new equation for LES that is formally consistent with RANS when the filter width is very large. This approach is dedicated to applications to non-equilibrium turbulence and coarse grid simulations. An illustration is made of large eddy simulations of turbulence submitted to periodic forcing. The model is also an alternative approach to hybrid models. PACS 47.27.Eq     

A Gas-Kinetic Scheme for Turbulent Flow

RANS simulations may not provide accurate results for all flow conditions. The interaction between a shock wave and a turbulent boundary layer is an example which may still be difficult to simulate accurately. Beside the inability to reproduce physical phenomena such as shock unsteadiness, the argument is put forward that the conventional numerical schemes, based on the Navier-Stokes equations, may be unable to generate a physically consistent turbulent stress tensor in the presence of large unresolved scales of motion. A large ratio between unresolved and resolved scales of motion, a sort of Knudsen number based on turbulent fluctuations, might introduce inaccuracies for which the turbulence model is not accountable. In order to improve the accuracy of RANS simulations, researchers have suggested various ad-hoc modifications to standard turbulence models which limit eddy viscosity or the turbulent stress tensor in the presence of strong gradients. Gas-kinetic schemes might be able to improve RANS predictions in shocklayers by removing or limiting the errors caused by the large scales ratio. These schemes are a class of their own; in the framework of a finite-volume or finite-elements discretizations, they model the numerical fluxes on the basis of the Boltzmann equation instead of the Navier-Stokes equations as is conventionally done. In practical terms, these schemes provide a higher accuracy and, more importantly, an in-built “multiscalar” mechanism, i.e. the ability to adjust to the size of unresolved scales of motion. This property makes them suitable for shock-capturing and rarefied flow. Gas-kinetic scheme may be coupled to a conventional RANS turbulence model; it is shown that the turbulent stress tensor is naturally adjusted as a function of the unresolved-to-resolved scales ratios and achieves a higher physical consistency than conventional schemes. The simulations shown - well-known benchmark cases with strong shock-boundary layer interactions - have been obtained with a standard two-equation turbulence model (k- ω). It is shown that the gas-kinetic scheme provides good quality predictions, where conventional schemes with the same turbulence model are known to fail.     

Computational analysis of impinging shock-wave boundary layer interaction under conditions of incipient separation

The interaction of an oblique shock wave with a turbulent boundary layer under conditions of incipient separation is analyzed by means of large-eddy simulation (LES) and Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) turbulence models, with the objective to explore their predictive capabilities, in particular with respect to the unsteady features of the interaction. Consistent with earlier direct numerical simulations, we have found that the flow dynamics in the interaction zone is characterized by strong intermittency associated with the formation of scattered spots of flow reversal near the nominal position of the reflected shock. Comparison with experimental results (at much larger Reynolds number) show that the qualitative features of the interaction are predicted reasonably well by both LES and RANS models. RANS models supplemented with a semi-empirical closure are also found to provide reasonable estimate of the fluctuating pressure loads at the wall.     

A hybrid RANS/LES simulation of high-Reynolds-number channel flow using additional filtering at the interface

A hybrid method combining large eddy simulation (LES) with the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equation is used to simulate a turbulent channel flow at high Reynolds number. It is known that the mean velocity profile has a mismatch between the RANS and LES regions in hybrid simulations of a channel flow. The velocity mismatch is reproduced and its dependence on the location of the RANS/LES interface and on the type of RANS model is examined in order to better understand its properties. To remove the mismatch and to obtain better velocity profiles, additional filtering is applied to the velocity components in the wall-parallel planes near the interface. The additional filtering was previously introduced to simulate a channel flow at low Reynolds number. It is shown that the filtering is effective in reducing the mismatch even at high Reynolds number. Profiles of the velocity fluctuations of runs with and without the additional filtering are examined to help understand the reason for the mismatch. Due to the additional filtering, the wall-normal velocity fluctuation increases at the bottom of the LES region. The resulting velocity field creates the grid-scale shear stress more efficiently, and an overestimate of the velocity gradient is removed. The dependence of the velocity profile on the grid point number is also investigated. It is found that the velocity gradient in the core region is underestimated in the case of a coarse grid. Attention should be paid not only to the velocity mismatch near the interface but also to the velocity profile in the core region in hybrid simulations of a channel flow at high Reynolds number. PACS47.27.Eq; 47.27.Nz; 47.60.+i     

An Attempt to Combine Large Eddy Simulation with the k-ε Model in a Channel-Flow Calculation

Large eddy simulation (LES) is combined with the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equation in a turbulent channel-flow calculation. A one-equation subgrid-scale model is solved in a three-dimensional grid in the near-wall region whereas the standard k–ε model is solved in a one-dimensional grid in the outer region away from the wall. The two grid systems are overlapped to connect the two models smoothly. A turbulent channel flow is calculated at Reynolds numbers higher than typical LES and several statistical quantities are examined. The mean velocity profile is in good agreement with the logarithmic law. The profile of the turbulent kinetic energy in the near-wall region is smoothly connected with that of the turbulent energy for the k–ε model in the outer region. Turbulence statistics show that the solution in the near-wall region is as accurate as a usual LES. The present approach is different from wall modeling in LES that uses a RANS model near the wall. The former is not as efficient as the latter for calculating high-Reynolds-number flows. Nevertheless, the present method of combining the two models is expected to pave the way for constructing a unified turbulence model that is useful for many purposes including wall modeling. Received 11 June 1999 and accepted 15 December 2000     

The State of the Art of Hybrid RANS/LES Modeling for the Simulation of Turbulent Flows

This review presents the state of the art of hybrid RANS/LES modeling for the simulation of turbulent flows. After recalling the modeling used in RANS and LES methodologies, we propose in a first step a theoretical formalism developed in the spectral space that allows to unify the RANS and LES methods from a physical standpoint. In a second step, we discuss the principle of the hybrid RANS/LES methods capable of representing a RANS-type behavior in the vicinity of a solid boundary and an LES-type behavior far away from the wall boundary. Then, we analyze the principal hybrid RANS/LES methods usually used to perform numerical simulation of turbulent flows encountered in engineering applications. In particular, we investigate the very large eddy simulation (VLES), the detached eddy simulation (DES), the partially integrated transport modeling (PITM) method, the partially averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) method, and the scale adaptive simulation (SAS) from a physical point of view. Finally, we establish the connection between these methods and more precisely, the link between PITM and PANS as well as DES and PITM showing that these methods that have been built by different ways, practical or theoretical manners have common points of comparison. It is the opinion of the author to consider that the most appropriate method for a particular application will depend on the expectations of the engineer and the computational resources the user is prepared to expend on the problem.     

Possibilities and Limitations of Computer Simulations of Industrial Turbulent Dispersed Multiphase Flows

We give an overview on the usage of computer simulations in industrial turbulent dispersed multiphase flows. We present a few examples of industrial flows: bubble columns and bubbly pipe flows, stirred tanks, cyclones, and a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The fluid catalytic cracking unit is used to illustrate the complexity of the physical phenomena involved, and the possibilities and limitations of the different approaches used: Eulerian–Lagrangian (particle-tracking) and Eulerian–Eulerian (two-fluid). In the first approach, the continuous phase is solved using either RANS simulations (Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes simulations) or DNS/LES (Direct Numerical Simulations/Large-Eddy Simulations), and the individual particles are tracked. In the second approach, the dispersed phase is averaged, leading to two sets equations, which are quite similar to the RANS equations of single-phase flows. The Eulerian–Eulerian approach is the most commonly used in industrial applications, however, it requires a significant amount of modelling. Eulerian–Lagrangian RANS can be simpler to use; in particular in situations involving complex boundary conditions, polydisperse flows and agglomeration/breakup. The key issue for the success of the simulations is to have good models for the complex physics involved. A major weakness is the lack of good models for: the turbulence modification promoted by the particles, the inter-particle interactions, and the near-wall effects. Eulerian–Lagrangian DNS/LES can play an important role as a research tool, in order to get a better physical understanding, and to improve the models used in the RANS simulations (either Eulerian–Eulerian or Eulerian–Lagrangian).     

Modelling of a Premixed Swirl-stabilized Flame Using a Turbulent Flame Speed Closure Model in LES

This paper proposes a combustion model based on a turbulent flame speed closure (TFC) technique for large eddy simulation (LES) of premixed flames. The model was originally developed for the RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes equations) approach and was extended here to LES. The turbulent quantities needed for calculation of the turbulent flame speed are obtained at the sub grid level. This model was at first experienced via an test case and then applied to a typical industrial combustor with a swirl stabilized flame. The paper shows that the model is easy to apply and that the results are promising. Even typical frequencies of arising combustion instabilities can be captured. But, the use of compressible LES may also lead to unphysical pressure waves which have their origin in the numerical treatment of the boundary conditions.     

模型燃烧室内瞬态紊流的大涡模拟

本文采用三种不同亚网格尺度模型对带有V型稳定器的模型燃烧室二维瞬态紊流流动进行了大涡模拟。并在交错网格系下用SIMPLE算法和混合差分格式求解离散方程。数值研究拟不同型式入口速度分布和不同亚网格尺度模型下模型燃烧室二维瞬态紊流流场。计算结果表明不同入口速度分布和不同亚网格尺度模型对瞬态流场和出口速度分布有一定的影响。本文通过数值模拟,揭示了V型稳定器后旋涡的产生和脱落过程。通过计算结果及实验数据的比较可知,本文采用的亚网格尺度模型可以用来模拟模型燃烧室紊流流场及稳定器后面回流区的流动情况。     

A Hybrid-Filter Approach to Turbulence Simulation

Germano (Theor Comput Fluid Dyn 17:225–331, 2004) proposed a hybrid-filter approach, which additively combines an LES-like filter operator (F) and a RANS-like statistical operator (E) using a blending function k: H?=?kF?+?(1???k)E. Using turbulent channel flow as an example, we first conducted a priori tests in order to gain some insights into this hybrid-filter approach, and then performed full simulations to further assess the approach in actual simulations. For a priori tests, two separate simulations, RANS (E) and LES (F), were performed using the same grid in order to construct a hybrid-filtered field (H). It was shown that the extra terms arising out of the hybrid-filtered Navier–Stokes (HFNS) equations provided additional energy transfer from the RANS region to the LES region, thus alleviating the need for the ad hoc forcing term that has been used by some investigators. The complexity of the governing equations necessitated several modifications in order to render it suitable for a full numerical simulation. Despite some issues associated with the numerical implementation, good results were obtained for the mean velocity and skin friction coefficient. The mean velocity profile did not have an overshoot in the logarithmic region for most blending functions, confirming that proper energy transfer from the RANS to the LES region was a key to successful hybrid models. It is shown that Germano’s hybrid-filter approach is a viable and mathematically more appealing approach to simulate high Reynolds number turbulent flows.     

Log-layer mismatch and commutation error in hybrid RANS/LES simulation of channel flow

Hybrid approach combining large eddy simulation (LES) with the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equation (RANS) is expected to accurately simulate wall-bounded turbulent flows at high Reynolds numbers. As an important issue in developing hybrid methods, it is known that the log layers in the RANS and LES regions are not lined up in hybrid RANS/LES simulations of channel flow. Although several methods including additional filtering near the RANS/LES interface have been proposed to eliminate the log-layer mismatch, there is no obvious physical justification for the methods and some ad hoc tuning is necessary. In this work, the commutation error terms in the filtered velocity equations are investigated to justify the method of additional filtering. It is shown that the additional filtering can be considered as a finite difference approximation to extra terms due to the non-commutivity between the hybrid filter and the spatial derivative. Moreover, an expression determining the filter width and its location for the additional filtering is obtained. To validate the expression, a hybrid simulation of channel flow is carried out. The additional filtering with the filter width derived is shown to be effective in eliminating the log-layer mismatch and improving the mean velocity profile.