Large Eddy Simulations Using an Unstructured Grid Compressible Navier - Stokes Algorithm

Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of the decay of isotropic turbulence and of channel flow has been performed using an explicit second-order unstructured grid algorithm for tetrahedral cells. The algorithm solves for cell-averaged values using the finite volume form of the unsteady compressible Jittered Navier-Stokes equations. The inviscid fluxes are obtained from Godunov's exact Riemann solver. Reconstruction of the flow variables to the left and right sides of each face is performed using least squares or Frink's method. The viscous fluxes and heat transfer are obtained by application of Gauss' theorem. LES of the decay of nearly incompressible isotropic turbulence has been performed using two models for the SGS stresses: the Monotone Integrated Large Eddy Simulation (MILES) approach, wherein the inherent numerical dissipation models the sub-grid scale (SGS) dissipation, and the Smagorinsky SGS model. The results using the MILES approach with least squares reconstruction show good agreement with incompressible experimental data. The contribution of the Smagorinsky SGS model is negligible. LES of turbulent channel flow was performed at a Reynolds number (based on channel height and bulk velocity) of 5600 and Mach number of 0.5 (at which compressibility effects are minimal) using Smagorinsky's SGS model with van Driest damping. The results show good agreement with experimental data and direct numerical simulations for incompressible channel flow. The SGS eddy viscosity is less than 10% of the molecular viscosity, and therefore the LES is effectively MILES with molecular viscosity.     

Dynamic Evaluation of Mesh Resolution and Its Application in Hybrid LES/RANS Methods

In this work, we investigate a resolution evaluation criterion based on the ratio between turbulent length-scales and grid spacing within the context of dynamic resolution evaluation in hybrid LES/RANS simulations. A modified version of the commonly used length-scale criterion is adopted. The modified length-scale criterion is evaluated for a plane channel flow and compared to the criterion based on two-point correlations. Simulation results show qualitative agreement between the two criteria and physical predictions from both resolution indicators. These observations are confirmed by simulations of flows over periodic hills. It is further demonstrated that the length-scale based criterion is relatively less sensitive on variation of model parameters compared to criteria based on resolved percentage of turbulent quantities. The improved resolution criterion is applied in a dual-mesh hybrid LES/RANS solver. Numerical simulations with the hybrid solver suggest that the interactions between the length-scale resolution indicator and the solution are moderate, and that favorable comparisons with benchmark results are obtained. In summary, we demonstrate that the modified length-scale based resolution indicator performs satisfactorily in both pure LES and hybrid simulations. Therefore, it is selected as a promising candidate to provide reliable predictions of resolution adequacy for individual cells in hybrid LES/RANS simulations.     

A new wall-damping function for large eddy simulation employing Kolmogorov velocity scale

A new wall-damping function, based on the Kolmogorov velocity scale, for large eddy simulation (LES) is proposed, which accounts for the near-wall effect. To calculate the Kolmogorov velocity scale, u_ε, the dissipation rate of turbulent energy, ε, is needed. In LES, however, the dissipation rate is generally not solved, unlike in the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations, e.g., k-ε models. Although, in some previous studies, the dissipation rate of the subgrid-scale (SGS) turbulent energy, ε_SGS, is used instead of ε in calculating the Kolmogorov velocity scale, the scale obtained using such a method overly depends on the grid resolution employed and is generally inappropriate. Accordingly, the wall-damping function using the incorrect velocity scale also depends on the grid resolution and gives an inadequate wall effect. This is because ε_SGS contains only the components in the scale smaller than the grid-filter width, which obviously varies with the grid resolution employed. In this study, to overcome this problem, we propose a method for estimating the Kolmogorov velocity scale with a technique of conversion in LES, and the estimated one is utilized in the wall-damping function. The revised wall-damping function for LES is tested in channel flows and a backward-facing step flow. The results show that it yields a proper near-wall effect in all test cases which cover a wide range of grid resolution and Reynolds numbers. It is also shown that all three kinds of SGS models incorporating the present wall-damping function provide good predictions, and it is effective both in one-equation and 0-equation SGS models. These results suggest that the use of the proposed wall-damping function is a refined and versatile near-wall treatment in LES with various kinds of SGS models.     

基于人工神经网络的亚格子应力建模

亚格子(SGS)应力建模在湍流大涡模拟(LES)中有着极为重要的作用. 传统亚格子应力模型存在相对误差较大、耗散过强等问题. 近年来, 计算机技术的发展使得人工神经网络(ANN)等机器学习方法逐渐成为亚格子应力建模型的新研究范式. 本文着重考虑滤波宽度及雷诺数影响, 在不可压缩槽道湍流中建立了亚格子应力的ANN模型. 该模型以滤波后的直接数值模拟(fDNS)流场物理量及滤波尺度为输入信息, 相应滤波尺度下的亚格子应力为输出量. 通过对不同滤波尺度及不同雷诺数数据的训练, ANN模型能够给出与直接数值模拟(DNS)高度吻合的亚格子应力. 此外, 模型在亚格子耗散等非ANN建模量上也有着优异的预测性能, 与基于DNS获得的对应物理量的相关系数大都在0.9以上, 较梯度模型及Smagorinsky模型有明显提升. 在后验测试中, ANN模型对流向平均速度剖面的预测同样优于梯度模型、Smagorinsky模型及隐式大涡模拟(ILES)等传统LES模型. 在脉动速度均方根预测方面, 除了某些法向位置外ANN模型的性能整体上相对其他3个模型有所提升. 然而, 随着网格尺度的增大ANN模型预测的结果与fDNS结果的偏差逐渐增大. 总之, ANN方法在发展高精度亚格子应力模型上具有很大的潜力.      

Subgrid-Scale Models for Compressible Large-Eddy Simulations

An a priori study of subgrid-scale (SGS) models for the unclosed terms in the energy equation is carried out using the flow field obtained from the direct simulation of homogeneous isotropic turbulence. Scale-similar models involve multiple filtering operations to identify the smallest resolved scales that have been shown to be the most active in the interaction with the unresolved SGSs. In the present study these models are found to give more accurate prediction of the SGS stresses and heat fluxes than eddy-viscosity and eddy-diffusivity models, as well as improved predictions of the SGS turbulent diffusion, SGS viscous dissipation, and SGS viscous diffusion.     

An investigation of thermally stratified turbulent channel flow with temperature oscillation on the bottom wall by large eddy simulation

Thermally stratified shear turbulent channel flow with temperature oscillation on the bottom wall of the channel is calculated to investigate the behavior of turbulent flow and heat transfer by use of large eddy simulation (LES) approach coupled with dynamic subgrid-scale (SGS) models. The objective of this study is to deal with the effect of the temperature oscillation on turbulent behavior of thermally stratified turbulent channel flow and to examine the effectiveness of the LES technique for predicting statistically unsteady turbulent flow driven by time-varying buoyancy force. To validate the present calculation, thermally stratified shear turbulent channel flow is computed and compared with available data obtained by direct numerical simulation (DNS), which confirm that the present approach can be used to predict thermally stratified turbulent channel flow satisfactorily. Further, to illustrate the effect of the temperature oscillation with different Richardson numbers and periods of the oscillation on turbulence characteristics, the phase-averaged mean value and fluctuation of the resolved velocities and temperature, and instantaneous velocity fluctuation structures are analyzed.     

Large eddy simulation of complex turbulent flows: Physical aspects and research trends

In the current paper, we have primarily addressed one powerful simulation tool developed during the last decades—Large Eddy Simulation (LES), which is most suitable for unsteady three-dimensional complex turbulent flows in industry and natural environment. The main point in LES is that the large-scale motion is resolved while the small-scale motion is modeled or, in geophysical terminology, parameterized. With a view to devising a subgrid-scale(SGS) model of high quality, we have highlighted analyzing physical aspects in scale interaction and energy transfer such as dissipation, backscatter, local and non-local interaction, anisotropy and resolution requirement. They are the factors responsible for where the advantages and disadvantages in existing SGS models come from. A case study on LES of turbulence in vegetative canopy is presented to illustrate that LES model is more based on physical arguments. Then, varieties of challenging complex turbulent flows in both industry and geophysical fields in the near future are presented. In conclusion, we may say with confidence that new century shall see the flourish in the research of turbulence with the aid of LES combined with other approaches. The NSAF project supported by the NSFC and the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics (10176032)     

LES prediction of space-time correlations in turbulent shear flows

We compare the space-time correlations calculated from direct numerical simulation(DNS) and large-eddy simulation(LES) of turbulent channel flows.It is found from the comparisons that the LES with an eddy-viscosity subgrid scale(SGS) model over-predicts the space-time correlations than the DNS.The overpredictions are further quantified by the integral scales of directional correlations and convection velocities.A physical argument for the overprediction is provided that the eddy-viscosity SGS model alone does not includes the backscatter effects although it correctly represents the energy dissipations of SGS motions.This argument is confirmed by the recently developed elliptic model for space-time correlations in turbulent shear flows.It suggests that enstrophy is crucial to the LES prediction of spacetime correlations.The random forcing models and stochastic SGS models are proposed to overcome the overpredictions on space-time correlations.     

Regularized,parameter free scale similarity type models for Large Eddy Simulation

The fidelity of Large Eddy Simulations (LES) depends strongly on the closures of the sub-grid scale (SGS) stress tensor. Although it is well known that the SGS stresses in LES are not aligned with the strain rate tensor, the most widely used models are still of eddy viscosity type, due to their robust behavior in LES and reasonable performance in a posteriori testing. The unstable behavior of more advanced anisotropic models, that is typically found in LES, has been attributed to either the fact that these models provide backscatter or to the fact that they do not provide a sufficient amount of dissipation. Based on recent advances in the field, an alternative modeling strategy is suggested, which can be used to regularize an arbitrary anisotropic (e.g. scale similarity type) model. The resulting model is easy to implement, can be written in compact form and is free of model parameters. The model has been tested a-posteriori and results are presented for a Taylor-Green-Vortex, a free plane jet and a turbulent channel flow of friction Reynolds numbers 395, 590 and 934. The results are compared to well-known eddy viscosity models and when applicable, to simulations without explicit LES model. The new model exhibits good performance for a variety of mesh resolutions and for all configurations. Furthermore, a-priori analysis results in the context of liquid atomization indicate that the model might be suitable as well in more complex physical scenarios. The a-priori analysis performance of the model is found to be nearly equivalent to the underlying structural anisotropic model in terms of its correlation coefficient, but the model is free of backscatter and provides good stability in LES.     

青藏铁路冻土区环境问题对工程安全可靠性影响

当大涡模拟用于研究化学反应流动时，传统的滤波方法会导致化学反应项不封闭. 为克服这 个困难，发展了条件滤波大涡模拟方法. 在选择适当的条件变量后，条件滤波的化学反 应项可以表达为一个封闭项. 但同时也带来了新的问题：条件滤波耗散或条件滤波扩散项的 不封闭. 为解决这一问题，采用了直接数值模拟方法研究了它们在大小尺度上的统计特 性. 研究结果表明：条件滤波耗散和扩散对于大尺度的依赖主要体现在大尺度标量场中扩散 层结构的影响，同时小尺度脉动的变化几乎与条件滤波扩散无关，而它对条件滤波耗散却显 现出明显的作用. 在构造条件滤波耗散的亚格子模型时，小尺度脉动的作用不容忽视.     

Large Eddy Simulations: How to evaluate resolution

The present paper gives an analysis of fully developed channel flow at Reynolds number of Re=u_τδ/ν=4000 based on the friction velocity, u_τ, and half the channel height, δ. Since the Reynolds number is high, the LES is coupled to a URANS model near the wall (hybrid LES–RANS) which acts as a wall model. It it found that the energy spectra is not a good measure of LES resolution; neither is the ratio of the resolved turbulent kinetic energy to the total one (i.e. resolved plus modelled turbulent kinetic energy). It is suggested that two-point correlations are the best measures for estimating LES resolution. It is commonly assumed that SGS dissipation takes place at high wavenumbers. Energy spectra of the fluctuating velocity gradients show that this is not true; the major part of the SGS dissipation takes place at low to midrange wavenumbers. Furthermore, the energy spectra of the fluctuating velocity gradients reveals that the accuracy of the predicted velocity gradients at the highest resolved wavenumbers is very poor.     

Swirling-strength based large eddy simulation of turbulent flow around single square cylinder at low Reynolds numbers

In view of the fact that large scale vortices play the substantial role of momentum transport in turbulent flows, large eddy simulation(LES) is considered as a better simulation model. However, the sub-grid scale(SGS) models reported so far have not ascertained under what flow conditions the LES can lapse into the direct numerical simulation. To overcome this discrepancy, this paper develops a swirling strength based the SGS model to properly model the turbulence intermittency, with the primary characteristics that when the local swirling strength is zero, the local sub-grid viscosity will be vanished. In this paper, the model is used to investigate the flow characteristics of zero-incident incompressible turbulent flows around a single square cylinder(SC)at a low Reynolds number range Re ∈ [103, 104]. The flow characteristics investigated include the Reynolds number dependence of lift and drag coefficients, the distributions of time-spanwise averaged variables such as the sub-grid viscosity and the logarithm of Kolmogorov micro-scale to the base of 10 at Re = 2 500 and 104, the contours of spanwise and streamwise vorticity components at t = 170. It is revealed that the peak value of sub-grid viscosity ratio and its root mean square(RMS) values grow with the Reynolds number. The dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy is larger near the SC solid walls.The instantaneous factor of swirling strength intermittency(FSI) exhibits some laminated structure involved with vortex shedding.     

Comparison of Subgrid-scale Viscosity Models and Selective Filtering Strategy for Large-eddy Simulations

Explicitly filtered large-eddy simulations (LES), combining high-accuracy schemes with the use of a selective filtering without adding an explicit subgrid-scales (SGS) model, are carried out for the Taylor-Green-vortex and the supersonic-boundary-layer cases. First, the present approach is validated against direct numerical simulation (DNS) results. Subsequently, several SGS models are implemented in order to investigate if they can improve the initial filter-based methodology. It is shown that the most accurate results are obtained when the filtering is used alone as an implicit model, and for a minimal cost. Moreover, the tests for the Taylor-Green vortex indicate that the discretization error from the numerical methods, notably the dissipation error from the high-order filtering, can have a greater influence than the SGS models.     

基于人工神经网络的湍流大涡模拟方法

大涡模拟方法(LES)是研究复杂湍流问题的重要工具,在航空航天、湍流燃烧、气动声学、大气边界层等众多工程领域中具有广泛的应用前景.大涡模拟方法采用粗网格计算大尺度上的湍流结构,并用亚格子(SGS)模型近似表达滤波尺度以下的流动结构对大尺度流场的作用.传统的亚格子模型由于只利用了单点流场信息和简单的函数关系,在先验验证中相对误差较大, 在后验验证中耗散过强. 近几年来,机器学习方法在湍流建模问题中得到了越来越多的应用.本文介绍了基于人工神经网络(ANN)的湍流亚格子模型的最新进展.详细地讨论了人工神经网络混合模型、空间人工神经网络模型和反卷积人工神经网络模型的构造方法.借助于人工神经网络强大的数据插值能力,新的亚格子模型的先验精度和后验精度均有显著提升. 在先验验证中,新模型所预测的亚格子应力的相关系数超过了0.99,在预测精度上远高于传统的大涡模拟模型. 在后验验证中,新模型对各类湍流统计量和瞬态流动结构的预测都优于隐式大涡模拟方法、动态Smagorinsky模型、动态混合模型等传统模型.因此, 人工神经网络方法在发展复杂湍流的先进大涡模拟模型中具有很大的潜力.      

Effects of the Similarity Model in Finite-Difference LES of Isotropic Turbulence Using a Lagrangian Dynamic Mixed Model

A Lagrangian dynamic formulation of the mixed similarity subgrid (SGS) model for large-eddy simulation (LES) of turbulence is proposed. In this model, averaging is performed over fluid trajectories, which makes the model applicable to complex flows without directions of statistical homogeneity. An alternative version based on a Taylor series expansion (nonlinear mixed model) is also examined. The Lagrangian models are implemented in a finite difference code and tested in forced and decaying isotropic turbulence. As comparison, the dynamic Smagorinsky model and volume-averaged formulations of the mixed models are also tested. Good results are obtained, except in the case of low-resolution LES (32³) of decaying turbulence, where the similarity coefficient becomes negative due to the fact that the test-filter scale exceeds the integral scale of turbulence. At a higher resolution (64³), the dynamic similarity coefficient is positive and good agreement is found between predicted and measured kinetic energy evolution. Compared to the eddy viscosity term, the similarity or the nonlinear terms contribute significantly to both SGS dissipation of kinetic energy and SGS force. In order to dynamically test the accuracy of the modeling, the error incurred in satisfying the Germano identity is evaluated. It is found that the dynamic Smagorinksy model generates a very large error, only 3% lower than the worst-case scenario without model. Addition of the similarity or nonlinear term decreases the error by up to about 50%, confirming that it represents a more realistic parameterization than the Smagorinsky model alone.     

Subgrid-scale contributions to Lagrangian time correlations in isotropic turbulence

The application of large-eddy simulation （LES） to particle-laden turbulence raises such a fundamental question as whether the LES with a subgrid scale （SGS） model can correctly predict Lagrangian time correlations （LTCs）. Most of the currently existing SGS models are constructed based on the energy budget equations. Therefore, they are able to correctly predict energy spectra, but they may not ensure the correct prediction on the LTCs. Previous researches investigated the effect of the SGS modeling on the Eulerian time correlations. This paper is devoted to study the LTCs in LES. A direct numerical simulation （DNS） and the LES with a spectral eddy viscosity model are performed for isotropic turbulence and the LTCs are calculated using the passive vector method. Both a priori and a posteriori tests are carried out. It is observed that the subgrid;scale contributions to the LTCs cannot be simply ignored and the LES overpredicts the LTCs than the DNS. It is concluded from the straining hypothesis that an accurate prediction of enstrophy spectra is most critical to the prediction of the LTCs.     

The role of macroscopic hardening and individual length-scales on crack tip stress elevation from phenomenological strain gradient plasticity

This paper quantifies the effect of strain gradient plasticity (SGP) on crack tip stress elevation for a broad range of applied loading conditions and constitutive model parameters, including both macroscopic hardening parameters and individual material length-scales controlling gradient effects. Finite element simulations incorporating the Fleck-Hutchinson SGP theory are presented for an asymptotically sharp stationary crack. Results identify fundamental scaling relationships describing (i) the physical length-scales over which strain gradients are prominent, and (ii) the degree of stress elevation over conventional Hutchinson-Rice-Rosengren (HRR) fields. Results illustrate that the three length-scale theory predicts much larger SGP effects than the single length-scale theory. Critically, the first length-scale parameter dominates SGP stress elevation: this suggests that SGP effects in fracture can be predicted using the length-scales extracted from nanoindentation, which exhibits similar behavior. Transitional loading/material parameters are identified that establish regimes of SGP relevance: this provides the foundation for the rational application of SGP when developing new micromechanical models of crack tip damage mechanisms and associated subcritical crack propagation behavior in structural alloys.     

A hybrid dynamic Smagorinsky model for large eddy simulation

A hybrid dynamic subgrid-scale model (HDSM) pertaining to Large-eddy simulation (LES) has been developed. The coefficient obtained by German dynamic Smagorinsky model (DSM) was integrated with a new dynamic coefficient, based on the dynamic subgrid characteristic length and controlled by the subgrid-scale (SGS) motions. In HDSM, the characteristic wave number determining the characteristic length of the dynamic subgrid is calculated from a new energy weighted mean method when the subgrid scale turbulent kinetic energy and the dissipation wave number are known. The dissipation wave-number is derived from the SGS turbulent kinetic energy spectrum equation. The total dissipation rate spectrum equation is based on the Pao energy spectrum and local equilibrium assumption. The dynamic subgrid characteristic length could take into account the rapidly fluctuating small scale behaviours and the spatial variation of turbulent characteristics. HDSM was used to simulate the fully developed channel and turbulent flow past a circular cylinder, and to determine the impact of the dam-break flow on downstream structure. The HDSM is robust in respect to anisotropic mesh and is less sensitive to grid resolution, and would accurately describe the energy transfer from large-scale to SGS fluctuations and capture more fluctuations of turbulence with same meshes compared to the DSM.     

Study of numerical errors in direct numerical simulation and large eddy simulation

By comparing the energy spectrum and total kinetic energy, the effects of numerical errors (which arise from aliasing and discretization errors), subgrid-scale (SGS) models, and their interactions on direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large eddy simulation (LES) are investigated. The decaying isotropic turbulence is chosen as the test case. To simulate complex geometries, both the spectral method and Pade compact difference schemes are studied. The truncated Navier-Stokes (TNS) equation model with Pade discrete filter is adopted as the SGS model. It is found that the discretization error plays a key role in DNS. Low order difference schemes may be unsuitable. However, for LES, it is found that the SGS model can represent the effect of small scales to large scales and dump the numerical errors. Therefore, reasonable results can also be obtained with a low order discretization scheme.     

Performances of LES and RANS Models for Simulation of Complex Flows in a Coaxial Jet Mixer

Flow and mixing processes in a classical coaxial jet mixer have been investigated numerically. Calculations have been performed using three Large Eddy Simulation models and three unsteady RANS models. The time averaged mixture fraction and axial velocity, their rms values and energy spectra are compared with LIF and LDA measurements for both j- and r-modes of the jet mixer flow. A special attention is paid to the ability of different models to reproduce unsteady effects. The analysis demonstrates the superiority of the LES method with the dynamic mixed SGS model (DMM) with respect to other RANS and LES models.