Hans Kuerten

Large-eddy simulation of the turbulent mixing layer

Six subgrid models for the turbulent stress tensor are tested by conducting large-eddy simulations (LES) of the weakly compressible temporal mixing layer: the Smagorinsky, similarity, gradient, dynamic eddy-viscosity, dynamic mixed and dynamic Clark models. The last three models are variations of the first three models using the dynamic approach. Two sets of simulations are performed in order to assess the quality of the six models. The LES results corresponding to the first set are compared with filtered results obtained from a direct numerical simulation (DNS). It appears that the dynamic models lead to more accurate results than the non-dynamic models tested. An adequate mechanism to dissipate energy from resolved to subgrid scales is essential. The dynamic models have this property, but the Smagorinsky model is too dissipative during transition, whereas the similarity and gradient models are not sufficiently dissipative for the smallest resolved scales. In this set of simulations, at moderate Reynolds number, the dynamic mixed and Clark models are found to be slightly more accurate than the dynamic eddy-viscosity model. The second set of LES concerns the mixing layer at a considerably higher Reynolds number and in a larger computational domain. An accurate DNS for this mixing layer can currently not be performed, thus in this case the LES are tested by investigating whether they resemble a self-similar turbulent flow. It is found that the dynamic models generate better results than the non-dynamic models. The closest approximation to a self-similar state was obtained using the dynamic eddy-viscosity model.

On the formulation of the dynamic mixed subgrid-scale model

The dynamic mixed subgrid‐scale model of Zang et al. [Phys. Fluids A 5, 3186 (1993)] (DMM1) is modified with respect to the incorporation of the similarity model in order to remove a mathematical inconsistency. Compared to DMM1, the magnitude of the dynamic model coefficient of the modified model (DMM2) is increased considerably, while it is still significantly smaller than as occurs in the dynamic subgrid‐scale eddy‐viscosity model of Germano [J. Fluid Mech. 238, 325 (1992)] (DSM). Large eddy simulations(LES) for the weakly compressible mixing layer are conducted using these three models and results are compared with direct numerical simulation (DNS) data. LES based on DMM1 gives a significant improvement over LES using DSM, while even better agreement is achieved with DMM2.

Realizability conditions for the turbulent stress tensor in large-eddy simulation

The turbulent stress tensor in large-eddy simulation is examined from a theoretical point of view. Realizability conditions for the components of this tensor are derived, which hold if and only if the filter function is positive. The spectral cut-off, one of the filters frequently used in large-eddy simulation, is not positive. Consequently, the turbulent stress tensor based on spectrally filtered fields does not satisfy the realizability conditions, which leads to negative values of the generalized turbulent kinetic energy k. Positive filters, e. g. Gaussian or top-hat, always give rise to a positive k. For this reason, subgrid models which require positive values for k should be used in conjunction with e. g. the Gaussian or top-hat filter rather than with the spectral cutoff filter. If the turbulent stress tensor satisfies the realizability conditions, it is natural to require that the subgrid model for this tensor also satisfies these conditions. With respect to this point of view several subgrid models are discussed. For eddy-viscosity models a lower bound for the generalized turbulent kinetic energy follows as a necessary condition. This result provides an inequality for the model constants appearing in a ‘Smagorinsky-type’ subgrid model for compressible flows.

A priori tests of large eddy simulation of the compressible plane mixing layer

Three important aspects for the assessment of the possibilities of Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of compressible flow are investigated. In particular the magnitude of all subgrid-terms, the role of the discretization errors and the correlation of the turbulent stress tensor with several subgrid-models are studied. The basis of the investigation is a Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) of the two- and three-dimensional compressible mixing layer, using a finite volume method on a sufficiently fine grid. With respect to the first aspect, the exact filtered Navier-Stokes equations are derived and all terms are classified according to their order of magnitude. It is found that the pressure dilatation subgrid-term in the filtered energy equation, which is usually neglected in the modelling-practice, is as large as e.g. the pressure velocity subgrid-term, which in general is modelled. The second aspect yields the result that second- and fourth-order accurate spatial discretization methods give rise to discretization errors which are larger than the corresponding subgrid-terms, if the ratio between the filter width and the grid-spacing is close to one. Even if an exact representation for the subgrid-scale contributions is assumed, LES performed on a (considerably) coarser grid than required for a DNS, is accurate only if this ratio is sufficiently larger than one. Finally the well-known turbulent stress tensor is investigated in more detail. A priori tests of subgrid-models for this tensor yield poor correlations for Smagorinskys model, which is purely dissipative, while the non-eddy viscosity models considered here correlate considerably better.

COMPARISON OF NUMERICAL SCHEMES IN LARGE-EDDY SIMULATION OF THE TEMPORAL MIXING LAYER

A posteriori tests of large-eddy simulations for the temporal mixing layer are performed using a variety of numerical methods in conjunction with the dynamic mixed subgrid model for the turbulent stress tensor. The results of the large-eddy simulations are compared with filtered direct numerical simulation (DNS) results. Five numerical methods are considered. The cell vertex scheme (A) is a weighted second-order central difference. The transverse weighting is shown to be necessary, since the standard second-order central difference (A) gives rise to instabilities. By analogy, a new weighted fourth-order central difference (B) is constructed in order to overcome the instability in simulations with the standard fourth-order central method (B). Furthermore, a spectral scheme (C) is tested. Simulations using these schemes have been performed for the case where the filter width equals the grid size (I) and the case where the filter width equals twice the grid size (II). The filtered DNS results are best approximated in case II for each of the numerical methods A, B and C. The deviations from the filtered DNS data are decomposed into modelling error effects and discretization error effects. In case I the absolute modelling error effects are smaller than in case II owing to the smaller filter width, whereas the discretization error effects are larger, since the flow field contains more small-scale contributions. In case I scheme A is preferred over scheme B, whereas in case II the situation is the reverse. In both cases the spectral scheme C provides the most accurate results but at the expense of a considerably increased computational cost. For the prediction of some quantities the discretization errors are observed to eliminate the modelling errors to some extent and give rise to reduced total errors.

Subgrid-modelling in LES of Compressible Flow

Subgrid-models for Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of compressible turbulent flow are tested for the three-dimensional mixing layer. For the turbulent stress tensor the recently developed dynamic mixed model yields reasonable results.A priori estimates of the subgrid-terms in the filtered energy equation show that the usually neglected pressure-dilatation and turbulent dissipation rate are as large as the commonly retained pressure-velocity subgrid-term. Models for all these terms are proposed: a similarity model for the pressure-dilatation, similarity andk-dependent models for the turbulent dissipation rate and a dynamic mixed model for the pressure-velocity subgrid-term. Actual LES demonstrates that for a low Mach number all subgrid-terms in the energy equation can be neglected, while for a moderate Mach number the effect of the modelled turbulent dissipation rate is larger than the combined effect of the other modelled subgrid-terms in the filtered energy equation.

Large-eddy simulation of the temporal mixing layer using the Clark model

The Clark model for the turbulent stress tensor in large-eddy simulation is investigated from a theoretical and computational point of view. In order to be applicable to compressible turbulent flows, the Clark model has been reformulated. Actual large-eddy simulation of a weakly compressible, turbulent, temporal mixing layer shows that the eddy-viscosity part of the original Clark model gives rise to an excessive dissipation of energy in the transitional regime. On the other hand, the model gives rise to instabilities if the eddy-viscosity part is omitted and only the “gradient” part is retained. A linear stability analysis of the Burgers equation supplemented with the Clark model is performed in order to clarify the nature of the instability. It is shown that the growth-rate of the instability is infinite in the inviscid limit and that sufficient (eddy-)viscosity can stabilize the model. A model which avoids both the excessive dissipation of the original Clark model as well as the instability of the “gradient” part, is obtained when the dynamic procedure is applied to the Clark model. Large-eddy simulation using this new dynamic Clark model is found to yield satisfactory results when compared with a filtered direct numerical simulation. Compared with the standard dynamic eddy-viscosity model, the dynamic Clark model yields more accurate predictions, whereas compared with the dynamic mixed model the new model provides equal accuracy at a lower computational effort.

Hyper viscosity and vorticity-based models for subgrid-scale modeling

Large-eddy simulations corresponding to the decaying isotropic turbulence experiment of Comte-Bellot and Corrsin are performed, using a pseudo-spectral code that incorporates four models: viscosity and hyperviscosity types, each implemented for both the subgrid scale stress tensor and the subgrid scale force. Two 1/T scalings are also considered for the viscosity amplitude. The dynamic procedure is extended to the four models and is tested. Results are obtained with and without this procedure and for both scalings. The main conclusions are: (a) the two viscosity models perform equally well; (b) the Kolmogorov scaling performs as well as the Smagorinsky scaling, yet it is computationally more efficient; (c) in the dynamic procedure, there is a fairly wide range of test to grid filter ratios which produces results insensitive to this ratio; and (d) the hyperviscosity models lead to energy decay curves that follow the experimental data as well as the usual viscosity models.

Shocks in direct numerical simulation of the confined three-dimensional mixing layer

The occurrence of shocks in the confined three‐dimensional turbulent mixing layer at convective Mach number 1.2 is established by means of direct numerical simulations. The shocks are generated by the turbulent motions in the flow. Consequently, they can have different shapes and orientations, while they persist for a relatively short time. Furthermore, they are created by different types of turbulent vortices. The shocks do not strongly contribute to the turbulent dissipation. Even at the time when the largest shocks occur, the fraction of the turbulent dissipation due to the shocks is less than 10%.

Direct and Large-Eddy Simulation VIII

This volume continues previous DLES proceedings books, presenting modern developments in turbulent flow research. It is comprehensive in its coverage of numerical and modeling techniques for fluid mechanics.After Surrey in 1994, Grenoble in 1996, Cambridge in 1999, Enschede in 2001, Munich in 2003, Poitiers in 2005, and Trieste in 2009, the 8th workshop, DLES8, was held in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, again under the auspices of ERCOFTAC. Following the spirit of the series, the goal of thisworkshopis to establish a state-of-the-art of DNS and LES techniques for the computation and modeling of transitional/turbulent flows covering a broad scope of topics such as aerodynamics, acoustics, combustion, multiphase flows, environment, geophysics and bio-medical applications. This gathering of specialists in the field was a unique opportunity for discussions about the more recent advances in the prediction, understanding and control of turbulent flows in academic or industrial situations.