Simulation of complex turbulent flows: recent advances and prospects in wind engineering

Abstract

Publisher Summary Turbulent flows are found everywhere and are of interest to engineers and scientists working in many fields. There is a great variation in the physics of the flows and the required predictive capability among the fields. This might lead to difficulties. Researchers in one field might believe that their field is so unique that they need not borrow from others or they might adopt methods and concepts from other fields without sufficient critical thought. Either approach might lead to difficulties. Accuracy requirements vary greatly among the fields. Turbulence is strongly affected by “extra strains” including stratification, buoyancy, rotation, chemical reaction, and compression. To some, these are essential issues; to others, they are of no interest. In some fields, temporal fluctuations are of great importance; others are satisfied with time-averaged quantities. The accuracy demanded in some high technology areas is a few percent; other fields, including the geophysical and astrophysical sciences, might be satisfied with the order of magnitude results.