Large eddy simulation (2D) of spatially developing mixing layer using vortex‐in‐cell for flow field and filtered probability density function for scalar field

A large eddy simulation based on filtered vorticity transport equation has been coupled with filtered probability density function transport equation for scalar field, to predict the velocity and passive scalar fields. The filtered vorticity transport has been formulated using diffusion‐velocity method and then solved using the vortex method. The methodology has been tested on a spatially growing mixing layer using the two‐dimensional vortex‐in‐cell method in conjunction with both Smagorinsky and dynamic eddy viscosity subgrid scale models for an anisotropic flow. The transport equation for filtered probability density function is solved using the Lagrangian Monte‐Carlo method. The unresolved subgrid scale convective term in filtered density function transport is modelled using the gradient diffusion model. The unresolved subgrid scale mixing term is modelled using the modified Curl model. The effects of subgrid scale models on the vorticity contours, mean streamwise velocity profiles, root‐mean‐square velocity and vorticity fluctuations profiles and negative cross‐stream correlations are discussed. Also the characteristics of the passive scalar, i.e. mean concentration profiles, root‐mean‐square concentration fluctuations profiles and filtered probability density function are presented and compared with previous experimental and numerical works. The sensitivity of the results to the Schmidt number, constant in mixing frequency and inflow boundary conditions are discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical prediction of isothermally reacting mixing layer using vortex‐in‐cell and filtered density function

A large eddy simulation based on the filtered vorticity transport equation and the filtered density function (FDF) transport equation developed in an earlier study is extended to predict a chemically reacting flow with no heat release. The filtered vorticity transport equation is solved using the vortex‐in‐cell scheme in conjunction with the dynamic eddy viscosity subgrid‐scale models. The transport equation for FDF is solved using the Lagrangian Monte‐Carlo method. The methodology is tested on a chemically reacting spatially growing mixing layer with no heat release. The effects of Damköhler number (Da) on the concentration structure of the reacting mixing layer, the mean reactant and product concentrations and on the reactant FDF are investigated. It is shown that mixing has a greater effect on scalar field within the vortex structure as compared with the braid regions. Also for high Da, the reaction zones are mainly limited to the thin reacting interfacial zones, i.e. the contact zone between the reactants, whereas for low Da, the reacting zones are spread as reacting pockets within the vortex structure. The effects of Da on mean reactant and product concentrations, root‐mean‐square concentration fluctuations and probability density are discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Large eddy simulation of turbulent incompressible flows by a three‐level finite element method

The variational multiscale method provides a methodical framework for large eddy simulation of turbulent flows. In this work, a particular implementation in the form of a three‐level finite element method separating large resolved, small resolved, and unresolved scales is proposed. Residual‐free bubbles are used for the numerical approximation of the small‐scale momentum equation. A stabilizing term is added, in order to take into account the effect of the small‐scale continuity equation. This implementation guarantees the stability of the method without further provisions and offers substantial computational savings on the small‐scale level. Furthermore, it is accounted for the unresolved scales by a specific dynamic modelling procedure. The method is tested for two different turbulent flow situations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparative study of inflow conditions for two‐ and three‐dimensional spatially developing mixing layers using large eddy simulation

A series of spatially developing mixing layers are simulated using the large eddy simulation (LES) technique. A hyperbolic tangent function and data derived from boundary layer simulations are used to generate the inflow condition, and their effects on the flow are compared. The simulations are performed in both two and three dimensions. In two‐dimensional simulations, both types of inflow conditions produce a layer that grows through successive pairings of Kelvin–Helmholtz (K–H) vortices, but the composition ratio is lower for the hyperbolic tangent inflow simulations. The two‐dimensional simulations do not undergo a transition to turbulence. The three‐dimensional simulations produce a transition to turbulence, and coherent structures are found in the post‐transition region of the flow. The composition ratio of the three‐dimensional layers is reduced in comparison to the counterpart two‐dimensional runs. The mechanisms of growth are investigated in each type of simulation, and amalgamative pairing interactions are found in the pre‐transition region of the three‐dimensional simulations, and throughout the entire computational domain of those carried out in two‐dimensions. The structures beyond the post‐transition region of the three‐dimensional simulations appear to behave in a much different manner to their pre‐transition cousins, with no pairing‐type interactions observed in the turbulent flow. In order to accurately simulate spatially developing mixing layers, it is postulated that the inflow conditions must closely correspond to the conditions present in the reference experiment. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Usability of explicit filtering in large eddy simulation with a low‐order numerical scheme and different subgrid‐scale models

Based on a priori tests, in large eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent fluid flow, the numerical error related to low‐order finite‐difference‐type methods can be large in comparison with the effect of subgrid‐scale (SGS) model. Explicit filtering has been suggested to reduce the error, and it has shown promising results in a priori studies and in some simulations with fourth‐order method. In this paper, the effect of explicit filtering on the total simulation error is studied together with a second‐order scheme, where the numerical error should be even larger. The fully developed turbulent channel flow between two parallel walls is used as a test case. Rather simple SGS models are applied, because these models are most likely used in practical applications of LES. Explicit filtering is here applied to the non‐linear convection term of the Navier–Stokes equations, four three‐dimensional filter functions are applied, and the effect of filtering is separated from the effect of SGS modelling. It is shown that the effect of filtering is rather large and smooth filters introduce an additional error component that increases the total simulation error. Finally, filtering via subfilter‐scale modelling is applied, and it is shown that this approach performs better. However, the large‐frequency components of the resolved flow field are not as effectively damped as when the non‐linear convection term is filtered. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A time‐implicit high‐order compact differencing and filtering scheme for large‐eddy simulation

This work investigates a high‐order numerical method which is suitable for performing large‐eddy simulations, particularly those containing wall‐bounded regions which are considered on stretched curvilinear meshes. Spatial derivatives are represented by a sixth‐order compact approximation that is used in conjunction with a tenth‐order non‐dispersive filter. The scheme employs a time‐implicit approximately factored finite‐difference algorithm, and applies Newton‐like subiterations to achieve second‐order temporal and sixth‐order spatial accuracy. Both the Smagorinsky and dynamic subgrid‐scale stress models are incorporated in the computations, and are used for comparison along with simulations where no model is employed. Details of the method are summarized, and a series of classic validating computations are performed. These include the decay of compressible isotropic turbulence, turbulent channel flow, and the subsonic flow past a circular cylinder. For each of these cases, it was found that the method was robust and provided an accurate means of describing the flowfield, based upon comparisons with previous existing numerical results and experimental data. Published in 2003 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study of a plane‐free jet exhausting from a channel by vortex‐in‐cell method

A two‐dimensional simulation of a plane jet exhausting from a channel has been performed using the vortex in cell algorithm in the Reynolds number range of 100–900. The vorticity is generated on the wall of the entrance channel whose length has been fixed in order to obtain a fully developed velocity profile at the entry of the jet. The transient behaviour of the velocity field starting from rest has been observed until reaching a quasi steady regime. The mean value of the velocity field is compared with the results of a finite volume computation on the same mesh. The velocity fluctuations obtained using this method are analysed. Their effect on the mean flow is estimated to be smaller than the viscous effect. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Large eddy simulation using a dynamic mixing length subgrid‐scale model

A novel dynamic mixing length (DML) subgrid‐scale model for large eddy simulations is proposed in this work to improve the cutoff length of the Smagorinsky model. The characteristic mixing length (or the characteristic wave number) is dynamically estimated for the subgrid‐scale fluctuation of turbulence by the cutoff wave‐number, k_c, and the dissipation wave‐number, k_d. The dissipation wave number is derived from the kinetic energy spectrum equation and the dissipation spectrum equation. To prove the promise of the DML model, this model is used to simulate the lid‐driven cubical cavity with max‐velocity‐based Reynolds numbers 8850 and 12,000, the channel flows with friction‐velocity‐based Reynolds numbers 180, 395, 590, and 950, and the turbulent flow past a square cylinder at the higher Reynolds number 21,400, respectively, compared with the Smagorinsky model and Germano et al.'s dynamic Smagorinsky model. Different numerical experiments with different Reynolds numbers show that the DML model can be used in simulations of flows with a wide range of Reynolds numbers without the occurrence of singular values. The DML model can alleviate the dissipation of the Smagorinsky model without the loss of its robustness. The DML model shows some advantages over Germano et al.'s dynamic Smagorinsky model in its high stability and simplicity of calculation because the coefficient of the DML model always stays positive. The characteristic mixing length in the DML model reflects the subgrid‐scale fluctuation of turbulence in nature and thus the characteristic mixing length has a spatial and temporal distribution in turbulent flow. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

适用于浸入边界法的大涡模拟紊流壁面模型

基于近壁定常剪切应力假设,提出了一种新的适用于浸入边界法的大涡模拟紊流壁面模型。通过引入壁面滑移速度,修正了线性速度剖面计算得到的壁面剪切应力,使之满足Werner-Wengle模型。将其应用于平板紊流和高Re数圆管紊流的数值模拟,对比采用和不采用壁面模型的结果得知,采用此模型的速度剖面与实验值吻合良好,验证了此模型的有效性。研究了不同欧拉/拉格朗日网格相对位置对结果的影响,证明了此模型具有较好的鲁棒性,以及可根据局部流动状态和网格精度自动开闭的特点。     

A ‘poor man's Navier–Stokes equation’: derivation and numerical experiments—the 2‐D case

We present a systematic derivation of a discrete dynamical system directly from the two‐dimensional incompressible Navier–Stokes equations via a Galerkin procedure and provide a detailed numerical investigation (covering more than 107 cases) of the characteristic behaviours exhibited by the discrete mapping for specified combinations of the four bifurcation parameters. We show that this simple 2‐D algebraic map, which consists of a bilinearly coupled pair of logistic maps, can produce essentially any (temporal) behaviour observed either experimentally or computationally in incompressible Navier–Stokes flows as the bifurcation parameters are varied in pairs over their ranges of stable behaviours. We conclude from this that such discrete dynamical systems deserve consideration as sources of temporal fluctuations in synthetic‐velocity forms of subgrid‐scale models for large‐eddy simulation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of Smagorinsky‐based subgrid‐scale models in a finite‐volume computation

Smagorinsky‐based models are assessed in a turbulent channel flow simulation at Re_b=2800 and Re_b=12500. The Navier–Stokes equations are solved with three different grid resolutions by using a co‐located finite‐volume method. Computations are repeated with Smagorinsky‐based subgrid‐scale models. A traditional Smagorinsky model is implemented with a van Driest damping function. A dynamic model assumes a similarity of the subgrid and the subtest Reynolds stresses and an explicit filtering operation is required. A top‐hat test filter is implemented with a trapezoidal and a Simpson rule. At the low Reynolds number computation none of the tested models improves the results at any grid level compared to the calculations with no model. The effect of the subgrid‐scale model is reduced as the grid is refined. The numerical implementation of the test filter influences on the result. At the higher Reynolds number the subgrid‐scale models stabilize the computation. An analysis of an accurately resolved flow field reveals that the discretization error overwhelms the subgrid term at Re_b=2800 in the most part of the computational domain. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Large eddy simulation of turbulent shallow water flows using multi‐relaxation‐time lattice Boltzmann model

In this paper, the standard Smagorinsky's algorithm is embedded into the multiple relaxation time (MRT) lattice Boltzmann model (LBM) for large eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent shallow water flows (MRT‐LABSWE^TM). The model is based on the two‐dimensional nonlinear shallow water equations, giving the depth‐averaged features. It is verified by applying the model in three typical cases in engineering with turbulence: (i) the flow around a square cylinder, (ii) plane cavity flow, and (iii) flows in a junction of 90°. The results obtained by the MRT‐LABSWE^TM are compared with BGK‐LABSWE^TM results and experimental data. The objectives of this study are to validate the MRT‐LABSWE^TM in a turbulence simulation and perform a comparative analysis between the results of BGK‐LABSWE^TM and MRT‐LABSWE^TM. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A three‐dimensional vortex particle‐in‐cell method for vortex motions in the vicinity of a wall

A new vortex particle‐in‐cell method for the simulation of three‐dimensional unsteady incompressible viscous flow is presented. The projection of the vortex strengths onto the mesh is based on volume interpolation. The convection of vorticity is treated as a Lagrangian move operation but one where the velocity of each particle is interpolated from an Eulerian mesh solution of velocity–Poisson equations. The change in vorticity due to diffusion is also computed on the Eulerian mesh and projected back to the particles. Where diffusive fluxes cause vorticity to enter a cell not already containing any particles new particles are created. The surface vorticity and the cancellation of tangential velocity at the plate are related by the Neumann conditions. The basic framework for implementation of the procedure is also introduced where the solution update comprises a sequence of two fractional steps. The method is applied to a problem where an unsteady boundary layer develops under the impact of a vortex ring and comparison is made with the experimental and numerical literature. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.