Multifidelity validation of digital surrogates using variable-density turbulent mixing models

Abstract

High-speed experiments studying the Blast Driven Instability are used to validate Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and Large eddy simulation (LES) turbulent mixing models. The work helps to elucidate the three mixing regimes of the instability and shows that the LES can successfully capture, at lease to the first order, the complex physics therein. The work also highlights the limitations of RANS models for transitioning instabilities and how LES results remain highly sensitive to the characterization of initial conditions.