Maximum likelihood estimation of missing data applied to flow reconstruction around NACA profiles

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the maximum likelihood estimation for missing data in fluid flows series. The maximum likelihood estimation is provided with the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm applied to the linear and quadratic proper orthogonal decomposition POD-Galerkin reduced-order models (ROMs) for various sub-samplings of large data sets. The flows around a NACA0012 profile at Reynolds numbers of 103 and angle of incidence of and a NACA0015 profile at Reynolds numbers of 105 and angle of incidence of are first investigated using time-resolved particle image velocimetry measurements and sub-sampled according to different ratios of missing data. The EM algorithm is then applied to the POD ROMs constructed from the sub-sampled data sets. The results show that, depending on the sub-sampling used, the EM algorithm is robust with respect to the Reynolds number and can reproduce the velocity fields and the main structures of the missing flow fields for 50% and 75% of missing data.