Linearized and non‐linear acoustic/viscous splitting techniques for low Mach number flows

Computation of the acoustic disturbances generated by unsteady low‐speed flow fields including vortices and shear layers is considered. The equations governing the generation and propagation of acoustic fluctuations are derived from a two‐step acoustic/viscous splitting technique. An optimized high order dispersion–relation–preserving scheme is used for the solution of the acoustic field. The acoustic field generated by a corotating vortex pair is obtained using the above technique. The computed sound field is compared with the existing analytic solution. Results are in good agreement with the analytic solution except near the centre of the vortices where the acoustic pressure becomes singular. The governing equations for acoustic fluctuations are then linearized and solved for the same model problem. The difference between non‐linear and linearized solutions falls below the numerical error of the simulation. However, a considerable saving in CPU time usage is achieved in solving the linearized equations. The results indicate that the linearized acoustic/viscous splitting technique for the simulation of acoustic fluctuations generation and propagation by low Mach number flow fields seems to be very promising for three‐dimensional problems involving complex geometries. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A high‐resolution scheme for low Mach number flows

A method for computing low Mach number flows using high‐resolution interpolation and difference formulas, within the framework of the Marker and Cell (MAC) scheme, is presented. This increases the range of wavenumbers that are properly resolved on a given grid so that a sufficiently accurate solution can be obtained without extensive grid refinement. Results using this scheme are presented for three problems. The first is the two‐dimensional Taylor–Green flow which has a closed form solution. The second is the evolution of perturbations to constant‐density, plane channel flow for which linear stability solutions are known. The third is the oscillatory instability of a variable density plane jet. In this case, unless the sharp density gradients are resolved, the calculations would breakdown. Under‐resolved calculations gave solutions containing vortices which grew in place rather than being convected out. With the present scheme, regular oscillations of this instability were obtained and vortices were convected out regularly. Stable computations were possible over a wider range of sensitive parameters such as density ratio and co‐flow velocity ratio. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.     

Improvements to compressible Euler methods for low‐Mach number flows

In the present study improvements to numerical algorithms for the solution of the compressible Euler equations at low Mach numbers are investigated. To solve flow problems for a wide range of Mach numbers, from the incompressible limit to supersonic speeds, preconditioning techniques are frequently employed. On the other hand, one can achieve the same aim by using a suitably modified acoustic damping method. The solution algorithm presently under consideration is based on Roe's approximate Riemann solver [Roe PL. Approximate Riemann solvers, parameter vectors and difference schemes. Journal of Computational Physics 1981; 43 : 357–372] for non‐structured meshes. The numerical flux functions are modified by using Turkel's preconditioning technique proposed by Viozat [Implicit upwind schemes for low Mach number compressible flows. INRIA, Rapport de Recherche No. 3084, January 1997] for compressible Euler equations and by using a modified acoustic damping of the stabilization term proposed in the present study. These methods allow the compressible Euler equations at low‐Mach number flows to be solved, and they are consistent in time. The efficiency and accuracy of the proposed modifications have been assessed by comparison with experimental data and other numerical results in the literature. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An adaptive moving finite element method for steady low Mach number compressible combustion problems

This work surveys an r-adaptive moving mesh finite element method for the numerical solution of premixed laminar flame problems. Since the model of chemically reacting flow involves many different modes with diverse length scales, the computation of such a problem is often extremely time-consuming. Importantly, to capture the significant characteristics of the flame structure when using detailed chemistry, a much more stringent requirement on the spatial resolution of the interior layers of some intermediate species is necessary. Here, we propose a moving mesh method in which the mesh is obtained from the solution of so-called moving mesh partial differential equations. Such equations result from the variational formulation of a minimization problem for a given target functional that characterizes the inherent difficulty in the numerical approximation of the underlying physical equations. Adaptive mesh movement has emerged as an area of intense research in mesh adaptation in the last decade. With this approach, points are only allowed to be shifted in space leaving the topology of the grid unchanged. In contrast to methods with local refinement, data structure hence is unchanged and load balancing is not an issue as grid points remain on the processor where they are. We will demonstrate the high potential of moving mesh methods for effectively optimizing the distribution of grid points to reach the required resolution for chemically reacting flows with extremely thin boundary layers.     

Accuracy of high‐order density‐based compressible methods in low Mach vortical flows

At low Mach numbers, Godunov‐type approaches, based on the method of lines, suffer from an accuracy problem. This paper shows the importance of using the low Mach number correction in Godunov‐type methods for simulations involving low Mach numbers by utilising a new, well‐posed, two‐dimensional, two‐mode Kelvin–Helmholtz test case. Four independent codes have been used, enabling the examination of several numerical schemes. The second‐order and fifth‐order accurate Godunov‐type methods show that the vortex‐pairing process can be captured on a low resolution with the low Mach number correction applied down to 0.002. The results are compared without the low Mach number correction and also three other methods, a Lagrange‐remap method, a fifth‐order accurate in space and time finite difference type method based on the wave propagation algorithm, and fifth‐order spatial and third‐order temporal accurate finite volume Monotone Upwind Scheme for Conservation Laws (MUSCL) approach based on the Godunov method and Simple Low Dissipation Advection Upstream Splitting Method (SLAU) numerical flux with low Mach capture property. The ability of the compressible flow solver of the commercial software, ANSYS FLUENT , in solving low Mach flows is also demonstrated for the two time‐stepping methods provided in the compressible flow solver, implicit and explicit. Results demonstrate clearly that a low Mach correction is required for all algorithms except the Lagrange‐remap approach, where dissipation is independent of Mach number. © 2013 Crown copyright. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A time‐accurate scheme for the calculations of unsteady reactive flows at low Mach number

The artificial compressibility method is extended to the case of unsteady turbulent reacting flows at low Mach number. The resulting scheme is applied to the calculation of a propagating one‐dimensional (1D) planar turbulent flame with a realistic heat release parameter. An eddy break‐up‐like approach, with a conventional gradient expression for the turbulent fluxes, is retained to model this reacting turbulent flow. A quenched form of the mean reaction rate is used to ensure the existence of a steady regime of propagation, for which the present results are compared with those obtained by a steady analysis of the mean flame brush structure, with excellent agreement. A sensitivity analysis of the convergence rate to the values of the artificial compressibility factor and the pseudo‐time is carried out. It is shown that a reduced artificial compressibility factor of 5–10, combined with a pseudo‐Courant number of ≈1000, represents a good compromise to optimize the convergence rate. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An efficient approach for calculation of pitching moment in nonlinear reduced frequency method at low Mach number transonic flows

In this research, an efficient methodology for calculation of pitching moment coefficient at low Mach number transonic flows by using the perturbed nonlinear reduced frequency approach is presented. The proposed approach uses the perturbation technique in the nonlinear frequency domain (NLFD) method to estimate the solution at high harmonics. In this approach, the density and velocity fields at high harmonics are perturbed about those at low harmonics. Perturbing the density and velocity fields, the semi‐linear form of the governing equations is obtained. The resulting solution vector and spatial operator are then approximated by discrete form of Fourier transformation and governing equations are solved by using the pseudo‐spectral approach. Numerical results show that the proposed approach predicts good pitching moment coefficient at low Mach number transonic flows with up to 50% savings in computational time. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A lattice boltzmann model for compressible perfect gas

A new lattice Boltzmann model for compressible perfect gas is proposed. The numerical example shows that it can be used to simulate shock wave and contact discontinuity. The results are comparable with those obtained by traditional methods. The ratio of specific heats γ may be chosen according to the requirement of problems. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Continuous and discrete adjoint approaches for aerodynamic shape optimization with low Mach number preconditioning

Discrete and continuous adjoint approaches for use in aerodynamic shape optimization problems at all flow speeds are developed and assessed. They are based on the Navier–Stokes equations with low Mach number preconditioning. By alleviating the large disparity between acoustic waves and fluid speeds, the preconditioned flow and adjoint equations are numerically solved with affordable CPU cost, even at the so‐called incompressible flow conditions. Either by employing the adjoint to the preconditioned flow equations or by preconditioning the adjoint to the ‘standard’ flow equations (under certain conditions the two formulations become equivalent, as proved in this paper), efficient optimization methods with reasonable cost per optimization cycle, even at very low Mach numbers, are derived. During the mathematical development, a couple of assumptions are made which are proved to be harmless to the accuracy in the computed gradients and the effectiveness of the optimization method. The proposed approaches are validated in inviscid and viscous flows in external aerodynamics and turbomachinery flows at various Mach numbers. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

微可压缩模型预处理技术研究

微可压缩模型(slightly compressible model,SCM)是求解低马赫数流动的一种有效模型, SCM在求解过程中不必满足速度散度为零的条件,可直接应用时间推进方法求解得到不可压缩N-S方程的解. 深入研究了该模型的效率和精度; 为了提高收敛速度将预处理技术引入到该模型中, 推导了预处理后的控制方程和特征系统, 并构造了预处理后的通量. 通过对圆柱绕流、方腔流动、NACA0012翼型和6:1椭球的数值模拟, 一方面, 进一步展示了SCM的可行性与健壮性, 表明SCM适合于低马赫流动的数值模拟; 另一方面, 充分验证了预处理技术在微可压缩模型中的作用, 一定程度上解决了低马赫数流动的收敛问题, 并提高了求解的准确性和精度. 这为SCM应用于工程实际创造了一定的条件.      

A hybrid pressure–density‐based algorithm for the Euler equations at all Mach number regimes

In the present work, we propose a reformulation of the fluxes and interpolation calculations in the PISO method, a well‐known pressure‐correction solver. This new reformulation introduces the AUSM⁺ ? up flux definition as a replacement for the standard Rhie and Chow method of obtaining fluxes and central interpolation of pressure at the control volume faces. This algorithm tries to compatibilize the good efficiency of a pressure based method for low Mach number applications with the advantages of AUSM⁺ ? up at high Mach number flows. The algorithm is carefully validated using exact solutions. Results for subsonic, transonic and supersonic axisymmetric flows in a nozzle are presented and compared with exact analytical solutions. Further, we also present and discuss subsonic, transonic and supersonic results for the well known bump test‐case. The code is also benchmarked against a very tough test‐case for the supersonic and hypersonic flow over a cylinder. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An aeroacoustic hybrid approach for non‐isothermal flows at low Mach number

This paper presents an aeroacoustic hybrid technique for the study of non‐isothermal flows at low Mach number. The flow dynamics and the acoustic production and propagation are computed separately. The fully compressible Navier–Stokes equations are modified through an expansion of the physical quantities using a low Mach number approximation. Compressibility effects are thus removed in the CFD while inhomogeneities of the flow related to heat transfer are preserved. One advantage is a reduction of the time step constraint. Another advantage is that the Mach number does not appear explicitly and a simple rescaling allows a study over a relatively wide band of subsonic Mach number flows with a single dynamic simulation. Compatible acoustic source terms for LEE based propagation have been defined and the procedure is implemented in the case of a temporal mixing layer. Compressible simulations for Mach numbers of 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 are compared with the numerical results obtained using the proposed method. Very good agreement is obtained even at relatively high subsonic Mach number demonstrating the efficiency of the proposed technique. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Residual‐based variational multiscale methods for laminar,transitional and turbulent variable‐density flow at low Mach number

In the present study, residual‐based variational multiscale methods are developed for and applied to variable‐density flow at low Mach number. In particular, two different formulations are considered in this study: a standard stabilized formulation featuring SUPG/PSG/grad‐div terms and a complete residual‐based variational multiscale formulation additionally containing cross‐ and Reynolds‐stress terms as well as subgrid‐scale velocity terms in the energy‐conservation equation. The proposed methods are tested for various laminar flow test cases as well as a test case at laminar via transitional to turbulent flow stages. Stable and accurate results are obtained for all numerical examples. Substantial differences in the results between the two approaches do not become notable until a high temperature gradient is applied and the flow reaches a turbulent flow stage. The more pronounced influence of adding subgrid‐scale velocity terms to the energy‐conservation equation on the results than adding analogous terms to the momentum‐conservation equation in this situation appears particularly noteworthy. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On higher‐order mixed FEM for low Mach number flows: application to a natural convection benchmark problem

We consider higher‐order mixed finite elements with continuous pressures for the computation of stationary compressible flows at low Mach number. The proposed approach is based on a fully coupled treatment of the governing equations and therefore, for steady‐state calculations, does not rely on time‐stepping techniques. The non‐linear problem is solved by means of a quasi‐Newton iteration. The strongly coupled system resulting from higher‐order discretization of the linearized equations requires adequate solvers. We propose a new scheme based on multigrid methods with varying FEM ansatz orders on the grid hierarchy as well as multiplicative smoothers based on blocking techniques. Computational results are described for a benchmark configuration including a flow with heat transfer in the low Mach number regime. Furthermore, the issue of anisotropic grids is addressed in that context. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A high‐order discontinuous Galerkin solver for low Mach number flows

In this work, we present a high‐order discontinuous Galerkin method (DGM) for simulating variable density flows at low Mach numbers. The corresponding low Mach number equations are an approximation of the compressible Navier–Stokes equations in the limit of zero Mach number. To the best of the authors'y knowledge, it is the first time that the DGM is applied to the low Mach number equations. The mixed‐order formulation is applied for spatial discretization. For steady cases, we apply the semi‐implicit method for pressure‐linked equation (SIMPLE) algorithm to solve the non‐linear system in a segregated manner. For unsteady cases, the solver is implicit in time using backward differentiation formulae, and the SIMPLE algorithm is applied to solve the non‐linear system in each time step. Numerical results for the following three test cases are shown: Couette flow with a vertical temperature gradient, natural convection in a square cavity, and unsteady natural convection in a tall cavity. Considering a fixed number of degrees of freedom, the results demonstrate the benefits of using higher approximation orders. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparative study of high‐order variable‐property segregated algorithms for unsteady low Mach number flows

In this paper, five different algorithms are presented for the simulation of low Mach flows with large temperature variations, based on second‐order central‐difference or fourth‐order compact spatial discretization and a pressure projection‐type method. A semi‐implicit three‐step Runge–Kutta/Crank–Nicolson or second‐order iterative scheme is used for time integration. The different algorithms solve the coupled set of governing scalar equations in a decoupled segregate manner. In the first algorithm, a temperature equation is solved and density is calculated from the equation of state, while the second algorithm advances the density using the differential form of the equation of state. The third algorithm solves the continuity equation and the fourth algorithm solves both the continuity and enthalpy equation in conservative form. An iterative decoupled algorithm is also proposed, which allows the computation of the fully coupled solution. All five algorithms solve the momentum equation in conservative form and use a constant‐ or variable‐coefficient Poisson equation for the pressure. The efficiency of the fourth‐order compact scheme and the performances of the decoupling algorithms are demonstrated in three flow problems with large temperature variations: non‐Boussinesq natural convection, channel flow instability, flame–vortex interaction. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A collocated grid,projection method for time‐accurate calculation of low‐Mach number variable density flows in general curvilinear coordinates

A time‐accurate algorithm is proposed for low‐Mach number, variable density flows on curvilinear grids. Spatial discretization is performed on collocated grid that offers computational simplicity in curvilinear coordinates. The flux interpolation technique is used to avoid the pressure odd–even decoupling of the collocated grid arrangement. To increase the stability of the method, a two‐step predictor–corrector time integration scheme is employed. At each step, the projection method is used to calculate the hydrodynamic pressure and to satisfy the continuity equation. The robustness and accuracy of the method is illustrated with a series of numerical experiments including thermally driven cavity, polar cavity, three‐dimensional cavity, and direct numerical simulation of non‐isothermal turbulent channel flow. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A high‐order accurate discontinuous Galerkin finite element method for laminar low Mach number flows

In this paper we present a discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method designed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of laminar flow simulations at low Mach numbers using an implicit scheme. The algorithm is based on the flux preconditioning approach, which modifies only the dissipative terms of the numerical flux. This formulation is quite simple to implement in existing implicit DG codes, it overcomes the time‐stepping restrictions of explicit multistage algorithms, is consistent in time and thus applicable to unsteady flows. The performance of the method is demonstrated by solving the flow around a NACA0012 airfoil and on a flat plate, at different low Mach numbers using various degrees of polynomial approximations. Computations with and without flux preconditioning are performed on different grid topologies to analyze the influence of the spatial discretization on the accuracy of the DG solutions at low Mach numbers. The time accurate solution of unsteady flow is also demonstrated by solving the vortex shedding behind a circular cylinder at the Reynolds number of 100. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A low Reynolds number variant of partially-averaged Navier-Stokes model for turbulence

A low Reynolds number (LRN) formulation based on the Partially Averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) modelling method is presented, which incorporates improved asymptotic representation in near-wall turbulence modelling. The effect of near-wall viscous damping can thus be better accounted for in simulations of wall-bounded turbulent flows. The proposed LRN PANS model uses an LRN k-ε model as the base model and introduces directly its model functions into the PANS formulation. As a result, the inappropriate wall-limiting behavior inherent in the original PANS model is corrected. An interesting feature of the PANS model is that the turbulent Prandtl numbers in the k and ε equations are modified compared to the base model. It is found that this modification has a significant effect on the modelled turbulence. The proposed LRN PANS model is scrutinized in computations of decaying grid turbulence, turbulent channel flow and periodic hill flow, of which the latter has been computed at two different Reynolds numbers of Re = 10,600 and 37,000. In comparison with available DNS, LES or experimental data, the LRN PANS model produces improved predictions over the standard PANS model, particularly in the near-wall region and for resolved turbulence statistics. Furthermore, the LRN PANS model gives similar or better results - at a reduced CPU time - as compared to the Dynamic Smagorinsky model.