Adaptive Local Deconvolution Method Research Articles

Influence of wall shear stress on the secondary flow in square ducts

We investigate turbulent duct flows with a square cross section using well-resolved large-eddy simulations (LES). A physically consistent subgrid-scale turbulence model based on the Adaptive Local Deconvolution Method (ALDM) for implicit LES is used. The wall shear stress is artificially modified at one of the four walls to analyse the influence on the secondary flow. A direct numerical simulation (DNS) of a symmetrical duct flow is used as reference to assess the influence of a modified wall shear stress. The modification results in an asymmetrical distribution of the secondary flow source terms, affecting the momentum distribution. Further, the anisotropy of the Reynolds stress tensor, which induces the secondary flow vortices is considerably affected by the wall shear stress modulation.

Momentum boundary layers in transcritical channel flows

We present well-resolved large-eddy simulations (LES) of a channel flow solving the fully compressible Navier–Stokes equations in conservative form. An adaptive look-up table method is used for thermodynamic and transport properties. We apply a physically consistent subgrid-scale turbulence model, that is based on the Adaptive Local Deconvolution Method (ALDM) for implicit LES. The wall temperatures are set to enclose the pseudo-boiling temperature at a supercritical pressure, leading to strong property variations within the channel geometry. In total seven cases are computed covering different Reynolds numbers, pseudo-boiling positions and pressure values. The hot wall at the top and the cold wall at the bottom produce asymmetric mean velocity and temperature profiles which result in different momentum layer thicknesses. All cases feature a turbulent mass flux which is essential in turbulence modelling. Furthermore, we analyse the turbulent kinetic energy budgets, perform a quadrant and octant analysis of the Reynolds shear stress and employ an invariant map to study the anisotropy in transcritical turbulent channel flows.

Large eddy simulations of reacting and non-reacting transcritical fuel sprays using multiphase thermodynamics

We present a novel framework for high-fidelity simulations of inert and reacting sprays at transcritical conditions with highly accurate and computationally efficient models for complex real-gas effects in high-pressure environments, especially for the hybrid subcritical/supercritical mode of evaporation during the mixing of fuel and oxidizer. The high-pressure jet disintegration is modeled using a diffuse interface method with multiphase thermodynamics, which combines multi-component real-fluid volumetric and caloric state equations with vapor–liquid equilibrium calculations for the computation of thermodynamic properties of mixtures at transcritical pressures. Combustion source terms are evaluated using a finite-rate chemistry model, including real-gas effects based on the fugacity of the species in the mixture. The adaptive local deconvolution method is used as a physically consistent turbulence model for large eddy simulation (LES). The proposed method represents multiphase turbulent fluid flows at transcritical pressures without relying on any semi-empirical breakup and evaporation models. All multiphase thermodynamic model equations are presented for general cubic state equations coupled with a rapid phase-equilibrium calculation method that is formulated in a reduced space based on the molar specific volume function. LES results show a very good agreement with available experimental data for the reacting and non-reacting engine combustion network benchmark spray A at transcritical operating conditions.

Large-eddy simulation of turbulent channel flow at transcritical states

We present well-resolved large-eddy simulations (LES) of a channel flow solving the fully compressible Navier–Stokes equations in conservative form. An adaptive look-up table method is used for thermodynamic and transport properties. A physically consistent subgrid-scale turbulence model is incorporated, that is based on the Adaptive Local Deconvolution Method (ALDM) for implicit LES. The wall temperatures are set to enclose the pseudo-boiling temperature at a supercritical pressure, leading to strong property variations within the channel geometry. The hot wall at the top and the cold wall at the bottom produce asymmetric mean velocity and temperature profiles which result in different momentum and thermal boundary layer thicknesses. Different turbulent Prandtl number formulations and their components are discussed in context of strong property variations.

Numerical Investigations of Turbulent Flows around Hydrofoil by Using Implicit Large Eddy Simulation

Based on Implicit Large Eddy Simulation (ILES), the Adaptive Local Deconvolution Method (ALDM) was proposed to develop an implicit Sub-Grid Scale (SGS) model for three-dimensional (3D) turbulent unsteady flow around the NACA0012 Hydrofoil at a high Reynolds number of 2400,000. With the help of User Define Function (UDF) of the Fluent CFD software, the 3D turbulent unsteady flows were carried out by using ILES and LES respectively. The lift coefficients predicted by both models were in good agreement with the experimental data and the relative error of lift coefficient predicted by both models decreases firstly and then increases with the increase of the incident angle, but the numerical results by ILES were more close to the experimental, which verified the feasibility and accuracy of the ILES model. In addition, the predicted pressure contour and streamline distributions by ILES and LES at different incident angles in a wide range were also investigated further. The larger of the incident angle, the production and shedding of the vortex are stronger. The predicted results by both the models have the similar tendency, and the ILES could more finely capture the flow patterns. For a large incident angle of 20°, the internal flow analyses by ILES could well reproduce the whole process of the vortex from generation to development and shedding around the hydrofoil.

Mode interactions of a high-subsonic deep cavity

To understand the interactions of the acoustic modes associated with the tunnel walls and the cavity oscillations in the experiment, flows over a deep cavity having a length-to-depth ratio L/D = 0.42 at high subsonic speeds with and without an upper tunnel wall were investigated by using an implicit large-eddy simulation with an adaptive local deconvolution method. The results of the simulations with the upper tunnel wall converge well to the experimental results as the resolution increases. However, in the simulations without the upper tunnel wall the flow converges to a different mean state. The mode interactions were analyzed by using a Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD) method based on a memory-efficient snapshot algorithm. It was found that nearly trapped global modes, which have almost zero upstream and downstream radiation, can occur. The interactions of the trapped modes, the acoustic resonant modes in the cavity, and the shear-layer modes can be observed in the DMD modes of the flow with the upper tunnel wall, which results in the enhancement of harmonic modes and the existence of higher-order modes. In the flow without the upper tunnel wall, the pressure waves can transmit freely away from the cavity, but the interactions of the acoustic resonant modes and the shear-layer modes can also be observed when the frequencies of both kinds of modes coincide. The effects of the ratio of the cavity depth to the tunnel height (D/H) on the formation of trapped modes were also investigated. As the ratio D/H decreases, the frequency window of the trapped modes shrinks and finally closes, which is consistent with a theoretical model. It can be concluded that the effects of the upper tunnel wall on the dynamics of the cavity flow are strong and are promoted by the interactions of different kinds of modes. The appearance and enhancement of high order harmonic modes in the high-subsonic deep cavity are due to the effects of the trapped modes, but are not due to the directly reflected pressure waves from the upper wall.

Large-eddy simulation of nitrogen injection at trans- and supercritical conditions

Large-eddy simulations (LESs) of cryogenic nitrogen injection into a warm environment at supercritical pressure are performed and real-gas thermodynamics models and subgrid-scale (SGS) turbulence models are evaluated. The comparison of different SGS models — the Smagorinsky model, the Vreman model, and the adaptive local deconvolution method — shows that the representation of turbulence on the resolved scales has a notable effect on the location of jet break-up, whereas the particular modeling of unresolved scales is less important for the overall mean flow field evolution. More important are the models for the fluid’s thermodynamic state. The injected fluid is either in a supercritical or in a transcritical state and undergoes a pseudo-boiling process during mixing. Such flows typically exhibit strong density gradients that delay the instability growth and can lead to a redistribution of turbulence kinetic energy from the radial to the axial flow direction. We evaluate novel volume-translation methods on the basis of the cubic Peng-Robinson equation of state in the framework of LES. At small extra computational cost, their application considerably improves the simulation results compared to the standard formulation. Furthermore, we found that the choice of inflow temperature is crucial for the reproduction of the experimental results and that heat addition within the injector can affect the mean flow field in comparison to results with an adiabatic injector.

Validation of Large-Eddy Simulation Methods for Gravity Wave Breaking

Abstract To reduce the computational costs of numerical studies of gravity wave breaking in the atmosphere, the grid resolution has to be reduced as much as possible. Insufficient resolution of small-scale turbulence demands a proper turbulence parameterization in the framework of a large-eddy simulation (LES). The authors validate three different LES methods—the adaptive local deconvolution method (ALDM), the dynamic Smagorinsky method (DSM), and a naïve central discretization without turbulence parameterization (CDS4)—for three different cases of the breaking of well-defined monochromatic gravity waves. For ALDM, a modification of the numerical flux functions is developed that significantly improves the simulation results in the case of a temporarily very smooth velocity field. The test cases include an unstable and a stable inertia–gravity wave as well as an unstable high-frequency gravity wave. All simulations are carried out both in three-dimensional domains and in two-dimensional domains in which the velocity and vorticity fields are three-dimensional (so-called 2.5D simulations). The results obtained with ALDM and DSM are generally in good agreement with the reference direct numerical simulations as long as the resolution in the direction of the wave vector is sufficiently high. The resolution in the other directions has a weaker influence on the results. The simulations without turbulence parameterization are only successful if the resolution is high and the level of turbulence is comparatively low.

Finite-volume models with implicit subgrid-scale parameterization for the differentially heated rotating annulus

The differentially heated rotating annulus is a classical experiment for the investigation of baroclinic flows and can be regarded as a strongly simplified laboratory model of the atmosphere in mid-latitudes. Data of this experiment, measured at the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, are used to validate two numerical finite-volume models (INCA and cylFloit) which differ basically in their grid structure. Both models employ an implicit parameterization of the subgrid-scale turbulence by the Adaptive Local Deconvolution Method (ALDM). One part of the laboratory procedure, which is commonly neglected in simulations, is the annulus spin-up. During this phase the annulus is accelerated from a state of rest to a desired angular velocity. We use a simple modelling approach of the spin-up to investigate whether it increases the agreement between experiment and simulation. The model validation compares the azimuthal mode numbers of the baroclinic waves and does a principal component analysis of time series of the temperature field. The Eady model of baroclinic instability provides a guideline for the qualitative understanding of the observations.

Large-eddy simulation of turbulent cavitating flow in a micro channel

Large-eddy simulations (LES) of cavitating flow of a Diesel-fuel-like fluid in a generic throttle geometry are presented. Two-phase regions are modeled by a parameter-free thermodynamic equilibrium mixture model, and compressibility of the liquid and the liquid-vapor mixture is taken into account. The Adaptive Local Deconvolution Method (ALDM), adapted for cavitating flows, is employed for discretizing the convective terms of the Navier-Stokes equations for the homogeneous mixture. ALDM is a finite-volume-based implicit LES approach that merges physically motivated turbulence modeling and numerical discretization. Validation of the numerical method is performed for a cavitating turbulent mixing layer. Comparisons with experimental data of the throttle flow at two different operating conditions are presented. The LES with the employed cavitation modeling predicts relevant flow and cavitation features accurately within the uncertainty range of the experiment. The turbulence structure of the flow is further analyzed with an emphasis on the interaction between cavitation and coherent motion, and on the statistically averaged-flow evolution.

Large-eddy simulation of a pseudo-shock system in a Laval nozzle

Well-resolved Large-Eddy Simulations (LES) of a pseudo-shock system in the divergent part of a Laval nozzle with rectangular cross section are conducted and compared with experimental results. The LES matches the parameter set of a reference experiment. Details of the experiment, such as planar side walls, are taken into account, all wall boundary layers are well-resolved and no wall model is used. The Adaptive Local Deconvolution Method (ALDM) with shock sensor is employed for subgrid-scale turbulence modeling and shock capturing. The LES results are validated against experimental wall-pressure measurements and schlieren pictures. A detailed discussion of the complex flow phenomena of three-dimensional shock-wave–boundary-layer interaction, including corner vortices and recirculation zones, is presented. Limitations of RANS approaches are discussed with reference to the LES results.

Large-eddy simulation of passive shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction control

We investigate a passive flow-control technique for the interaction of an oblique shock generated by an 8.8° wedge with a turbulent boundary-layer at a free-stream Mach number of Ma∞=2.3 and a Reynolds number based on the incoming boundary-layer thickness of Reδ0=60.5×103 by means of large-eddy simulation (LES). The compressible Navier–Stokes equations in conservative form are solved using the adaptive local deconvolution method (ALDM) for physically consistent subgrid scale modeling. Emphasis is placed on the correct description of turbulent inflow boundary conditions, which do not artificially force low-frequency periodic motion of the reflected shock. The control configuration combines suction inside the separation zone and blowing upstream of the interaction region by a pressure feedback through a duct embedded in the wall. We vary the suction location within the recirculation zone while the injection position is kept constant. Suction reduces the size of the separation zone with strongest effect when applied in the rear part of the separation bubble. The analysis of wall-pressure spectra reveals that all control configurations shift the high-energy low-frequency range to higher frequencies, while the energy level is significantly reduced only if suction acts in the rear part of the separated zone. In that case also turbulence production within the interaction region is significantly reduced as a consequence of mitigated reflected shock dynamics and near-wall flow acceleration.

Large-eddy simulation of a supersonic turbulent boundary layer over a compression–expansion ramp

Results of a large-eddy simulation (LES) of a supersonic turbulent boundary layer flow along a compression–expansion ramp configuration are presented. The numerical simulation is directly compared with an available experiment at the same flow conditions. The compression–expansion ramp has a deflection angle of β=25°. The flow is characterized by a free-stream Mach number of Ma∞=2.88 and the Reynolds number based on the incoming boundary layer thickness is Reδ0=132840. The Navier Stokes equations for compressible flows are solved on a cartesian collocated grid. About 32.5×106 grid points are used to discretize the computational domain. Subgrid scale effects are modeled implicitly by the adaptive local deconvolution method (ALDM). A synthetic inflow-turbulence technique is used, which does not introduce any low frequency into the domain, therefore avoiding any possible interference with the shock/boundary layer interaction system. Statistical samples are gathered over 800 characteristic time scales δ0/U∞. The numerical data are in good agreement with the experiment in terms of mean surface-pressure distribution, skin-friction, mean velocity profiles, velocity and density fluctuations. For the first time the full compression–expansion ramp configuration was taken into account. The computational results confirm theoretical and experimental findings on fluctuation-amplification across the shockwave/boundary layer interaction region and on turbulence damping through the interaction with rarefaction waves. The LES provide evidence of the existence of Görtler-like structures originating from the recirculation region and traveling downstream along the ramp. An analysis of the wall pressure field clearly shows the presence of a low frequency motion of the shock and strong influence of the Görtler-like vortices on the wall pressure spectra.

A Conservative Integration of the Pseudo-Incompressible Equations with Implicit Turbulence Parameterization

Abstract Durran’s pseudo-incompressible equations are integrated in a mass and momentum conserving way with a new implicit turbulence model. This system is soundproof, which has two major advantages over fully compressible systems: the Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy (CFL) condition for stable time advancement is no longer dictated by the speed of sound and all waves in the model are clearly gravity waves (GW). Thus, the pseudo-incompressible equations are an ideal laboratory model for studying GW generation, propagation, and breaking. Gravity wave breaking creates turbulence that needs to be parameterized. For the first time the adaptive local deconvolution method (ALDM) for implicit large-eddy simulation (ILES) is applied to non-Boussinesq stratified flows. ALDM provides a turbulence model that is fully merged with the discretization of the flux function. In the context of non-Boussinesq stratified flows this poses some new numerical challenges—the solution of which is presented in this text. In numerical test cases the authors show the agreement of the results with the literature (Robert’s hot–cold bubble test case), they present the sensitivity to the model’s resolution and discretization, and they demonstrate qualitatively the behavior of the implicit turbulence model for a 2D breaking gravity wave packet.

Direct and large eddy simulation of stratified turbulence

Simulations of geophysical turbulent flows require a robust and accurate subgrid-scale turbulence modeling. To evaluate turbulence models for stably stratified flows, we performed direct numerical simulations (DNSs) of the transition of the three-dimensional Taylor–Green vortex and of homogeneous stratified turbulence with large-scale horizontal forcing. In these simulations we found that energy dissipation is concentrated within thin layers of horizontal tagliatelle-like vortex sheets between large pancake-like structures. We propose a new implicit subgrid-scale model for stratified fluids, based on the Adaptive Local Deconvolution Method (ALDM). Our analysis proves that the implicit turbulence model ALDM correctly predicts the turbulence energy budget and the energy spectra of stratified turbulence, even though dissipative structures are not resolved on the computational grid.

Spectral structure of stratified turbulence: direct numerical simulations and predictions by large eddy simulation

Density stratification has a strong impact on turbulence in geophysical flows. Stratification changes the spatial turbulence spectrum and the energy transport and conversion within the spectrum. We analyze these effects based on a series of direct numerical simulations (DNS) of stratified turbulence. To facilitate simulations of real-world problems, which are usually beyond the reach of DNS, we propose a subgrid-scale turbulence model for large eddy simulations of stratified flows based on the Adaptive Local Deconvolution Method (ALDM). Flow spectra and integral quantities predicted by ALDM are in excellent agreement with direct numerical simulation. ALDM automatically adapts to strongly anisotropic turbulence and is thus a suitable tool for studying turbulent flow phenomena in atmosphere and ocean.

Assessment of Implicit Large-Eddy Simulation with a Conservative Immersed Interface Method for turbulent cylinder flow

The success of Large-Eddy Simulations (LES) of wall-bounded turbulence depends strongly on an accurate representation of the flow near the boundaries. Since in implicit LES the truncation error of the numerical discretization itself functions as SGS model, the order of accuracy of the discretization should be maintained near the boundary. In this paper, we analyze the performance of implicit LES for predicting turbulent flows along complex geometries. For the representation of wall-boundaries two different approaches are compared: (A) the case of body-fitted grids, and (B) a novel second-order accurate Conservative Immersed Interface Method (CIIM) for representing boundaries of arbitrary shape on Cartesian grids. The need for mapping domain boundaries on the grid raises the question whether a comparable accuracy with body-fitted grids can be achieved. In both (A) and (B) we employ the Adaptive Local Deconvolution Method (ALDM) for implicit LES. The assessment is carried out on the example of the flow over a circular cylinder at Re = 3900. Two simulations with comparable numerical resolution are performed and compared to experimental reference data. Both methods result in similar accuracy for turbulent statistics and mean integral quantities. This demonstrates that ALDM on Cartesian grids is a feasible and efficient approach to simulate turbulent flows on complex domains.

Implicit LES applied to zero-pressure-gradient and adverse-pressure-gradient boundary-layer turbulence

Further development of large-eddy simulation (LES) faces as major obstacles the strong coupling between subgrid-scale (SGS) modeling and the truncation error of the numerical discretization. One can exploit this link by developing discretization methods where the truncation error itself functions as an implicit SGS model. The adaptive local deconvolution method (ALDM) is an approach to LES of turbulent flows that represents a full coupling of SGS model and discretization scheme. To provide evidence for the validity of this new SGS model, well resolved large-eddy simulations of a fully turbulent flat-plate boundary-layer flow subjected to a constant adverse pressure gradient are conducted. Flow parameters are adapted to an available experiment. The Reynolds number based on the local free-stream velocity and momentum thickness is 670 at the inflow and 5100 at the separation point. Clauser’s pressure-gradient parameter increases monotonically from 0 up to approximately 100 since a constant pressure gradient is prescribed. The adverse pressure gradient leads to a highly unsteady and massive separation of the boundary layer. The numerical predictions agree well with theory and experimental data.

Implicit large-eddy simulation applied to turbulent channel flow with periodic constrictions

The subgrid-scale (SGS) model in a large-eddy simulation (LES) operates on a range of scales which is marginally resolved by discretization schemes. Accordingly, the discretization scheme and the subgrid-scale model are linked. One can exploit this link by developing discretization methods from subgrid-scale models, or the converse. Approaches where SGS models and numerical discretizations are fully merged are called implicit LES (ILES). Recently, we have proposed a systematic framework for the design, analysis, and optimization of nonlinear discretization schemes for implicit LES. In this framework parameters inherent to the discretization scheme are determined in such a way that the numerical truncation error acts as a physically motivated SGS model. The resulting so-called adaptive local deconvolution method (ALDM) for implicit LES allows for reliable predictions of isotropic forced and decaying turbulence and of unbounded transitional flows for a wide range of Reynolds numbers. In the present paper, ALDM is evaluated for the separated flow through a channel with streamwise-periodic constrictions at two Reynolds numbers Re = 2,808 and Re = 10,595. We demonstrate that, although model parameters of ALDM have been determined for isotropic turbulence at infinite Reynolds number, it successfully predicts mean flow and turbulence statistics in the considered physically complex, anisotropic, and inhomogeneous flow regime. It is shown that the implicit model performs at least as well as an established explicit model.

On implicit subgrid-scale modeling in wall-bounded flows

Approaches to large eddy simulation where subgrid-scale model and numerical discretization are fully merged are called implicit large eddy simulation (ILES). Recently, we have proposed a systematic framework for development, analysis, and optimization of nonlinear discretization schemes for ILES [Hickel et al., J. Comput. Phys. 213, 413(2006)]. The resulting adaptive local deconvolution method (ALDM) provides a truncation error which acts as a subgrid-scale model consistent with asymptotic turbulence theory. In the present paper ALDM is applied to incompressible, turbulent channel flow to analyze the implicit model for wall-bounded turbulence. Computational results are presented for Reynolds numbers, based on friction velocity and channel half-width, of Reτ=180, Reτ=395, Reτ=590, and Reτ=950. All simulations compare well with direct numerical simulation data and yield better results than the dynamic Smagorinsky model at the same resolution. The results demonstrate that the implicit model ALDM provides an accurate prediction for wall-bounded turbulence although model parameters have been calibrated for the infinite Reynolds number limit of isotropic turbulence. The near-wall accuracy can be further improved by a simple modification which is described in the paper.