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At least 19 records

Improved subgrid-scale models for large-eddy simulation

The paper analyzes models for subgrid-scale turbulence. The analysis indicates that there is sufficient information in the resolved scales to determine some characteristics of the complete flow field. The kinetic energy of the small-scale motions can be decomposed into two parts: one results from the large scales and is correlated with them, and the other part is uncorrelated which leads to a two-component eddy-viscosity model. The 'production equals dissipation' argument does not apply to the small scales in the decay of turbulence because it does not account for the uncorrelated component. The exchange between the large and small scales takes place mainly between the smallest scales of the former and the largest scales of the latter; this argument is the basis of a new model shown to be superior to the Smagorinsky model (1963).

Bardina, J.↗

On the subgrid-scale modeling of compressible turbulence

A subgrid-scale model recently derived for use in the large-eddy simulation of compressible turbulent flows is examined from a fundamental theoretical and computational standpoint. It is demonstrated that this model, which is applicable only to compressible turbulent flows in the limit of small density fluctuations, correlates somewhat poorly with the results of direct numerical simulations of compressible isotropic turbulence at low Mach numbers. An alternative model, based on Favre-filtered fields, is suggested which appears to reduce these limitations.

Speziale, C. G.↗

The subgrid-scale modeling of compressible turbulence

A subgrid-scale model recently derived for use in the large-eddy simulation of compressible turbulent flows is examined from a fundamental theoretical and computational standpoint. It is demonstrated that this model, which is applicable only to compressible turbulent flows in the limit of small density fluctuations, correlates somewhat poorly with the results of direct numerical simulations of compressible isotropic turbulence at low Mach numbers. An alternative model, based on Favre-filtered fields, is suggested which appears to reduce these limitations.

Speziale, C. G.↗

Evaluation of subgrid-scale models using an accurately simulated turbulent flow

A calculation of periodic homogeneous isotropic turbulence is used to simulate the experimental decay of grid turbulence. The calculation is found to match the experiment in a number of important aspects and the computed flow field is then treated as a realization of a physical turbulent flow. From this flow, a calculation is conducted of the large eddy field and the various averages of the subgrid-scale turbulence that occur in the large eddy simulation equations. These quantities are compared with the predictions of the models that are usually applied in large eddy simulation. The results show that the terms which involve the large-scale field are accurately modeled but the subgrid-scale Reynolds stresses are only moderately well modeled. It is also possible to use the method to predict the constants of the models without reference to experiment. Attempts to find improved models have not met with success.

Clark, R. A.↗

Tests of subgrid-scale models in strained turbulence

Strained and sheared turbulence is computed by direct simulation and it is shown that the results are in good qualitative agreement with experiments. It is found that after large amounts of strain have been applied to turbulence, the energy flow to the small scales is reduced and, in some cases, reversed. Eddy viscosity models are shown to be very poor in strained turbulence and, when they are used, the mean strain should not be included in them. Finally, new models proposed by Bardina et al. have been tested and found to offer considerable promise for the future.

Mcmillan, O. J.↗

Toward the large-eddy simulations of compressible turbulent flows

New subgrid-scale models for the large-eddy simulation of compressible turbulent flows are developed based on the Favre-filtered equations of motion for an ideal gas. A compressible generalization of the linear combination of the Smagorinsky model and scale-similarity model (in terms of Favre-filtered fields) is obtained for the subgrid-scale stress tensor. An analogous thermal linear combination model is also developed for the subgrid-scale heat flux vector. The three dimensionless constants associated with these subgrid-scale models are obtained by correlating with the results of direct numerical simulations of compressible isotropic turbulence performed on a 96 to the third power grid using Fourier collocation methods. Extensive comparisons between the direct and modeled subgrid-scale fields are provided in order to validate the models. Future applications of these compressible subgrid-scale models to the large-eddy simulation of supersonic aerodynamic flows are discussed briefly.

Erlebacher, G.↗

Evaluation of subgrid-scale turbulence models using a fully simulated turbulent flow

An exact turbulent flow field was calculated on a three-dimensional grid with 64 points on a side. The flow simulates grid-generated turbulence from wind tunnel experiments. In this simulation, the grid spacing is small enough to include essentially all of the viscous energy dissipation, and the box is large enough to contain the largest eddy in the flow. The method is limited to low-turbulence Reynolds numbers, in our case R sub lambda = 36.6. To complete the calculation using a reasonable amount of computer time with reasonable accuracy, a third-order time-integration scheme was developed which runs at about the same speed as a simple first-order scheme. It obtains this accuracy by saving the velocity field and its first-time derivative at each time step. Fourth-order accurate space-differencing is used.

Clark, R. A.↗

Analysis of subgrid-scale eddy viscosity with use of results from direct numerical simulations

Without resort to any modeling, subgrid-scale eddy viscosity is computed from the results of high-resolution (64 cubed and 128 cubed grid points) direct numerical simulations of three-dimensional homogeneous isotropic decaying turbulence. In these simulations the eddy viscosity peaks sharply at the cutoff wavenumber, in rough agreement with the results of Kraichnan (1976). In addition, in the low-wavenumber range the eddy viscosity may be negative, contrary to the generally accepted concept of subgrid-scale eddy viscosity. Some possible explanations of this behavior are discussed.

Domaradzki, J. Andrzej↗

Numerical simulation of a plane turbulent mixing layer, with applications to isothermal, rapid reactions

A hybrid method has been developed for the numerical prediction of turbulent mixing in a spatially-developing, free shear layer. Most significantly, the computation incorporates the effects of large-scale structures, Schmidt number and Reynolds number on mixing, which have been overlooked in the past. In flow field prediction, large-eddy simulation was conducted by a modified 2-D vortex method with subgrid-scale modeling. The predicted mean velocities, shear layer growth rates, Reynolds stresses, and the RMS of longitudinal velocity fluctuations were found to be in good agreement with experiments, although the lateral velocity fluctuations were overpredicted. In scalar transport, the Monte Carlo method was extended to the simulation of the time-dependent pdf transport equation. For the first time, the mixing frequency in Curl's coalescence/dispersion model was estimated by using Broadwell and Breidenthal's theory of micromixing, which involves Schmidt number, Reynolds number and the local vorticity. Numerical tests were performed for a gaseous case and an aqueous case. Evidence that pure freestream fluids are entrained into the layer by large-scale motions was found in the predicted pdf. Mean concentration profiles were found to be insensitive to Schmidt number, while the unmixedness was higher for higher Schmidt number. Applications were made to mixing layers with isothermal, fast reactions. The predicted difference in product thickness of the two cases was in reasonable quantitative agreement with experimental measurements.

Lin, P.↗

Numerical simulation of homogeneous, isotropic, compressible turbulence

A new numerical algorithm is developed and applied to the direct simulation of compressible, homogeneous turbulent flows at low Mach numbers. A split method in time first solves a subset of the equations explicitly, followed by an implicit treatment of the pressure terms. The definition of an average sound speed over the entire field allows the implicit equations to be solved analytically, while relaxing the severe time limit imposed by the large sound speeds. Results from direct simulations on 96(3) grids provide a data base against which a new subgrid-scale model for compressible homogeneous turbulence is tested. This model reduces to the linear combination model in the absence of compressibility.

Erlebacher, G.↗

Trends and pacing items in computational aerodynamics

A perspective is presented of trends in computational aerodynamics, and of important technology development items that pace future advanced applications. From a survey of AIAA Journal papers published during the past two decades, the growth trends and the progressively increasing emphasis on code development for viscous, compressible, turbulent flow are illustrated. These trends are reflected in the chronology of introduction by the aerospace industry of new computational methods in aircraft design. Key pacing items outlined are: automatic grid generation for nonlinear inviscid computations; advanced computers, improved efficiency of numerical methods, and improved turbulence models for Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes computations; advanced computers, time-dependent three-dimensional law-of-the-wall, code development, improved efficiency of numerical methods, and improved subgrid-scale turbulence modeling for large eddy simulations.

Chapman, D. R.↗

Simulation of mesoscale convective response

Results are reported from a transfer of thermodynamic and dynamic data downscale from a two-dimensional mesoscale model to a two-dimensional cloud model and a subsequent examination of the differential convective response of the cloud model to a mesoscale structure. The mesoscale model included a high resolution PBL formulation, with convective forces expressed in a profile of exchange coefficients over the height of the PBL and the magnitude of the surface heat flux. Account was also taken of forcing by long- and short-wave radiation, surface forcing by the surface energy budget, the terrain shape, and possible wave reflection at the top boundary. The slab-symmetric cloud model possessed subgrid-scale features, five types of moisture terms, and a subroutine for accretion processes. The mesoscale environment was observed to have a significant impact on convective response, i.e., the vertical velocity and the cloud water. Various factors which were not included in the study and which must be considered are discussed.

Mcnider, R. T.↗

Mesoscale lake-effect snowstorms in the vicinity of Lake Michigan - Linear theory and numerical simulations

Mesoscale lake-effect snowstorms in the vicinity of Lake Michigan are studied by a linear steady-state analytic model and a nonlinear time-dependent numerical model with parameterized subgrid-scale physics. The solutions of the linear model show that the orientation of the mean wind field to the surface heating pattern is crucial to the shapes of the disturbances. The results indicate that the relative warmth of the lake surface can induce three updraft centers under a westerly wind, two updraft centers/bands under a northwesterly wind, and a convergence band under a northerly wind. Such convergences are caused by the interaction between the mean wind and the local circulations forced by the curved thermal contrasts. The numerical results from the nonlinear model not only produce convergence patterns very similar to those found in the linear theory and in other numerical studies, but also capture the transient property in some of the lake-induced disturbances. All of these results are qualitatively confirmed by satellite images.

Hsu, Hsiao-Ming↗

Evapotranspiration from nonuniform surfaces - A first approach for short-term numerical weather prediction

Observations of surface heterogeneity of soil moisture from scales of meters to hundreds of kilometers are discussed, and a relationship between grid element size and soil moisture variability is presented. An evapotranspiration model is presented which accounts for the variability of soil moisture, standing surface water, and vegetation internal and stomatal resistance to moisture flow from the soil. The mean values and standard deviations of these parameters are required as input to the model. Tests of this model against field observations are reported, and extensive sensitivity tests are presented which explore the importance of including subgrid-scale variability in an evapotranspiration model.

Wetzel, Peter J.↗

A Vertically Resolved Planetary Boundary Layer

Increase of the vertical resolution of the GLAS Fourth Order General Circulation Model (GCM) near the Earth's surface and installation of a new package of parameterization schemes for subgrid-scale physical processes were sought so that the GLAS Model GCM will predict the resolved vertical structure of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) for all grid points.

Helfand, H. M.↗

The length scale for sub-grid-scale parameterization with anisotropic resolution

Use of the Smagorinsky eddy-viscosity formulation and related schemes for subgrid-scale parameterization of large eddy simulation models requires specification of a single length scale, earlier related by Lilly to the scale of filtering and/or numerical resolution. An anisotropic integration of the Kolmogoroff enstrophy spectrum allows generalization of that relationship to anisotropic resolution. It is found that the Deardorff assumption is reasonably accurate for small anisotropies and can be simply improved for larger values.

Lilly, Douglas K.↗

Spectral and spatial energetics of the GISS model atmosphere

A calculation of the spectral and spatial energetics of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) 9-level model of the global atmosphere is given. Results are presented from a model simulation of January 1973 and compared with previous model studies and an observational analysis for the Northern Hemisphere. The spectral analysis permits detailed study of those physical processes of scale larger than the grid spacing and allows indirect conclusions concerning unresolved subgrid-scale processes. Major conclusions for larger-than-grid-scale processes are that (1) the GISS model with a relatively coarse resolution of 4 deg latitude by 5 deg longitude produces significant nonlinear energy transfers; and (2) baroclinic conversion is large near planetary wave-number 6, but both the GISS model and another orographic model show a less peaked structure than nonorographic models and observations. A linear fit to the kinetic energy spectrum yields a power law of -2.6 in the wavenumber region 8 to 15. For subgrid-scale processes, the turbulence theory result of very small energy flux cascade is obtained.

Tenenbaum, J.↗

Numerical simulation of the Gulf Stream and Mid-Ocean eddies

Oceanographic field measurements have revealed intense, transient mesoscale motions in many parts of the world ocean. The circulation of the western North Atlantic, considered in the present study as a rectangular basin, is simulated with a primitive equation model that has five levels and a horizontal grid size of 37 km. The model ocean is driven by a 2.5 gyre pattern of steady zonal wind stress and by a Newtonian-type surface heating. Two cases are considered: the first uses a Laplacian formulation for the subgrid-scale lateral diffusions of heat and momentum; the second uses a highly scale-selective biharmonic formulation for these diffusions. An analysis of the heat transport, in the biharmonic experiment, shows that the horizontal transport of heat by eddies is much larger than the subgrid-scale horizontal heat diffusion. In the Gulf Stream region, the eddy heat transport is comparable to the effect of a lateral diffusion coefficient of 10 to the 7th sq cm/s.

Semtner, A. J., Jr.↗