Evaluating the modulated gradient model in large eddy simulation of channel flow with OpenFOAM

Recently, a new family of subgrid-scale (SGS) models, termed as gradient-based models, has been introduced to calculate the SGS stresses in large eddy simulation (LES). In the present work, the modulated gradient model (MGM) was implemented in the OpenFOAM package, and the pimpleFoam solver was improved to be adopted with non-eddy viscosity models. The MGM is a new, nonlinear model that uses the local equilibrium hypothesis to assess the SGS kinetic energy and the velocity gradient tensor to calculate the relative weight of the different components of the SGS stress tensor. To evaluate the accuracy of the MGM along with the modified pimpleFoam solver, a turbulent channel flow was simulated at the three different frictional Reynolds numbers of 180, 395 and 590. Furthermore, the results were compared with direct numerical simulation data, as well as the numerical results obtained by the established SGS models such as the dynamic Smagorinsky model (DSM). A suitable accuracy for the first- and second-order turbulence parameters was reported. Moreover, it was demonstrated that MGM is computationally efficient compared to the DSM in treating channel flow.