Effect of convective schemes in wall-resolved and wall-modeled LES of compressible wall turbulence

Abstract

The current study discusses how numerical schemes and discretization approaches affect wall-resolved and wall-modeled LES outcomes. A turbulent boundary layer setup over a flat plate in both super- and hypersonic conditions is used to illustrate the effect of different numerical discretization strategies. In particular, six convective methods are examined, as well as various degrees of hybridization between shock-capturing and centered approaches: The former introducing non-negligible numerical viscosity, the latter being virtually dissipation-free. The analysis reveals that injected numerical viscosity due to upwinding procedures considerably alters wall dynamics for both wall-resolved and especially wall-modeled arrangements. In particular, if low-order or pure shock-capturing schemes are used, wall modeling fails in heading the system dynamics due to a strong modulation of main turbulent features. Conversely, realistic turbulence patterns are recovered if hybrid and/or high-order shock-capturing methods are employed. Thus, the paper establishes criteria for selecting a suitable numerical setup in wall-modeled LES, providing suggestions for grid resolution levels and convective scheme selection/hybridization. An overview perspective concerning numerical diffusion coupling with turbulent stresses in wall-resolved and wall-modeled LES is also provided.