Dynamic optimization methodology based on subgrid-scale dissipation for large eddy simulation

A dynamic procedure based on subgrid-scale dissipation is proposed for large eddy simulation of turbulent flows. In the new method, the model coefficients are determined by minimizing the square error of the resolved dissipation rate based on the Germano identity. A dynamic two-term mixed model is tested and evaluated both a priori and a posteriori in simulations of homogeneous and isotropic turbulence. The new dynamic procedure proves to be more effective to optimize the model coefficients as compared with traditional method. The corresponding dynamic mixed model can predict the physical quantities more accurately than traditional dynamic mixed model. (C) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC

On the elimination of the sweeping interactions from theories of hydrodynamic turbulence

In this paper, we revisit the claim that the Eulerian and quasi-Lagrangian same time correlation tensors are equal. This statement allows us to transform the results of an MSR quasi-Lagrangian statistical theory of hydrodynamic turbulence back to the Eulerian representation. We define a hierarchy of homogeneity symmetries between incremental homogeneity and global homogeneity. It is shown that both the elimination of the sweeping interactions and the derivation of the 4/5-law require a homogeneity assumption stronger than incremental homogeneity but weaker than global homogeneity. The quasi-Lagrangian transformation, on the other hand, requires an even stronger homogeneity assumption which is many-time rather than one-time but still weaker than many-time global homogeneity. We argue that it is possible to relax this stronger assumption and still preserve the conclusions derived from theoretical work based on the quasi-Lagrangian transformation.Comment: v1: submitted to Physica D. v2: major revisions; resubmitted to Physica D. v3: minor revisions requested by referee

Multifidelity modeling of irradiated particle-laden turbulence subject to uncertainty

The study of thermal radiation interacting with particle-laden turbulence is of great importance in a wide range of scientific and engineering applications. The computational study of such systems is challenging as a result of the large number of thermo-fluid mechanisms governing the underlying physics. To build confidence and improve the prediction accuracy of such simulations, the impact of uncertainties on the quantities of interest must be measured. This, however, requires a computational budget that is typically a large multiple of the cost of a single calculation, and thus may become infeasible for expensive simulation models featuring a large number of uncertain inputs and highly nonlinear behavior. In this regard, multifidelity methods have become increasingly popular in recent years as acceleration strategies to reduce the computational cost. These methods are based on a hierarchy of generalized numerical resolutions, or model fidelities, and attempt to leverage the correlation between high- and low-fidelity models to obtain a more accurate statistical estimator with a relatively small number of high-fidelity calculations. In this work, the performance of a collection of different multifidelity strategies and modeling approaches is assessed to propagate the uncertainties encountered in the simulation of irradiated particle-laden turbulence relevant to volumetric solar energy receivers. The results obtained indicate that multifidelity methods provide speedups on the order of 10-1000x with respect to straightforward Monte Carlo approaches, resulting in remarkable reductions in computational cost.Postprint (author's final draft

A new two-scale model for large eddy simulation of wall-bounded flows

A new hybrid approach to model high Reynolds number wall-bounded turbulent flows is developed based on coupling the two-level simulation (TLS) approach in the inner region with conventional large eddy simulation (LES) away from the wall. This new approach is significantly different from previous near-wall approaches for LES. In this hybrid TLS-LES approach, a very fine small-scale (SS) mesh is embedded inside the coarse LES mesh in the near-wall region. The SS equations capture fine-scale temporal and spatial variations in all three cartesian directions for all three velocity components near the wall. The TLS-LES equations are derived based on defining a new scale separation operator. The TLS-LES equations in the transition region are obtained by blending the TLS large-scale and LES equations. A new incompressible parallel flow solver is developed that accurately and reliably predicts turbulent flows using TLS-LES. The solver uses a primitive variable formulation based on an artificial compressibility approach and a dual time stepping method. The advective terms are discretized using fourth-order energy conservative finite differences. The SS equations are also integrated in parallel, which reduces the overall cost of the TLS-LES approach. The TLS-LES approach is validated and investigated for canonical channel flows, channel flow with adverse pressure gradient and asymmetric plane diffuser flow. The results suggest that the TLS-LES approach yields very reasonable predictions of most of the crucial flow features in spite of using relatively coarse grids.Ph.D.Committee Chair: Menon, Suresh; Committee Member: Ruffin, Stephen; Committee Member: Sankar, Lakshmi; Committee Member: Stoesser, Thorsten; Committee Member: Yeung, Pui-Kue

Dust in Brown Dwarfs IV. Dust formation and driven turbulence on mesoscopic scales

Dust formation in brown dwarf atmospheres is studied by utilising a model for driven turbulence in the mesoscopic scale regime. We apply a pseudo-spectral method where waves are created and superimposed within a limited wavenumber interval. The turbulent kinetic energy distribution follows the Kolmogoroff spectrum which is assumed to be the most likely value. Such superimposed, stochastic waves may occur in a convectively active environment. They cause nucleation fronts and nucleation events and thereby initiate the dust formation process which continues until all condensible material is consumed. Small disturbances are found to have a large impact on the dust forming system. An initially dust-hostile region, which may originally be optically thin, becomes optically thick in a patchy way showing considerable variations in the dust properties during the formation process. The dust appears in lanes and curls as a result of the interaction with waves, i.e. turbulence, which form larger and larger structures with time. Aiming on a physical understanding of the variability of brown dwarfs, related to structure formation in substellar atmospheres, we work out first necessary criteria for small-scale closure models to be applied in macroscopic simulations of dust forming astrophysical systems.Comment: A&A accepted, 20 page