Detached-eddy simulation (DES) was first proposed in 1997 and first used in 1999, so its full history can be surveyed. A DES community has formed, with adepts and critics, as well as new branches. The initial motivation of high–Reynolds number, massively separated flows remains, for which DES is convincingly more capable presently than either unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) or large-eddy simulation (LES). This review discusses compelling examples, noting the visual and quantitative success of DES. Its principal weakness is its response to ambiguous grids, in which the wall-parallel grid spacing is of the order of the boundary-layer thickness. In some situations, DES on a given grid is then less accurate than RANS on the same grid or DES on a coarser grid. Partial remedies have been found, yet dealing with thickening boundary layers and shallow separation bubbles is a central challenge. The nonmonotonic response of DES to grid refinement is disturbing to most observers, as is the absence of...

Detached-Eddy Simulation

Fluid dynamic turbulence is one of the most challenging computational physics problems because of the extremely wide range of time and space scales involved, the strong nonlinearity of the governing equations, and the many practical and important applications. While most linear fluid instabilities are well understood, the nonlinear interactions among them makes even the relatively simple limit of homogeneous isotropic turbulence difficult to treat physically, mathematically, and computationally. Turbulence is modeled computationally by a two-stage bootstrap process. The first stage, direct numerical simulation, attempts to resolve the relevant physical time and space scales but its application is limited to diffusive flows with a relatively small Reynolds number (Re). Using direct numerical simulation to provide a database, in turn, allows calibration of phenomenological turbulence models for engineering applications. Large eddy simulation incorporates a form of turbulence modeling applicable when the large-scale flows of interest are intrinsically time dependent, thus throwing common statistical models into question. A promising approach to large eddy simulation involves the use of high-resolution monotone computational fluid dynamics algorithms such as flux-corrected transport or the piecewise parabolic method which have intrinsic subgrid turbulence models coupled naturally to the resolved scales in the computed flow. The physical considerations underlying and evidence supporting this monotone integrated large eddy simulation approach are discussed.

New insights into large eddy simulation

The article gives an overview of the Scale-Adaptive Simulation (SAS) method developed by the authors during the last years. The motivation for the formulation of the SAS method is given and a detailed explanation of the underlying ideas is presented. The derivation of the high-Reynolds number form of the equations as well as the calibration of the constants is provided. The concept of SAS is explained using several generic examples and test cases. In a companion article, the model is applied to more complex industrial-type applications.

The Scale-Adaptive Simulation Method for Unsteady Turbulent Flow Predictions. Part 1: Theory and Model Description

Hybrid LES/RANS methods for the simulation of turbulent flows

Modifications are proposed of two recently developed hybrid CFD strategies, Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (DDES) and DDES with Improved wall-modeling capability (IDDES). The modifications are aimed at fine-tuning of these approaches to the k-ω SST background RANS model. The first one includes recalibrated empirical constants in the shielding function of the SA-based DDES model which are shown to be suboptimal (not providing the needed level of elimination of the Model Stress Depletion (MSD)) for the SST-based DDES model. For the SST-IDDES variant, in addition to that, a simplification of the original SA–based formulation is proposed, which does not cause any visible degradation of the model performance. Both modifications are extensively tested on a range of attached and separated flows (developed channel, backward-facing step, periodic hills, wall-mounted hump, and hydrofoil with trailing edge separation).

Development of DDES and IDDES Formulations for the k-ω Shear Stress Transport Model

A pair of oblique waves at low amplitudes is introduced in a supersonic flat-plate boundary layer at Mach 3. Its downstream development and the concomitant process of laminar to turbulent transition is then investigated numerically using linear-stability theory, parabolized stability equations and direct numerical simulations (DNS). In the present paper, the linear regime is studied first in great detail. The focus of the second part is the early and late nonlinear regimes. It is shown how the disturbance wave spectrum is filled up by nonlinear interactions and which flow structures arise and how these structures locally break down to small scales. Finally, the study answers the question whether a fully developed turbulent boundary layer can be reached by oblique breakdown. It is shown that the skin friction develops such as is typical of transitional and turbulent boundary layers. Initially, the skin friction coefficient increases in the streamwise direction in the transitional region and finally decays when the early turbulent state is reached. Downstream of the maximum in the skin friction, the flow loses its periodicity in time and possesses characteristic mean-flow and spectral properties of a turbulent boundary layer. The DNS data clearly demonstrate that oblique breakdown can lead to a fully developed turbulent boundary layer and therefore it is a relevant mechanism for transition in two-dimensional supersonic boundary layers.

Direct numerical simulation of complete transition to turbulence via oblique breakdown at Mach 3

A flow simulation Methodology (FSM) is presented for computing the time-dependent behavior of complex compressible turbulent flows. The development of FSM was initiated in close collaboration with C. Speziale (then at Boston University). The objective of FSM is to provide the proper amount of turbulence modeling for the unresolved scales while directly computing the largest scales. The strategy is implemented by using state-of-the-art turbulence models (as developed for Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS)) and scaling of the model terms with a "contribution function." The contribution function is dependent on the local and instantaneous "physical" resolution in the computation. This physical resolution is determined during the actual simulation by comparing the size of the smallest relevant scales to the local grid size used in the computation. The contribution function is designed such that it provides no modeling if the computation is locally well resolved so that it approaches direct numerical simulations (DNS) in the fine-grid limit and such that it provides modeling of all scales in the coarse-grid limit and thus approaches a RANS calculation. In between these resolution limits, the contribution function adjusts the necessary modeling for the unresolved scales while the larger (resolved) scales are computed as in large eddy simulation (LES). However, FSM is distinctly different from LES in that it allows for a consistent transition between RANS, LES, and DNS within the same simulation depending on the local flow behavior and "physical" resolution. As a consequence, FSM should require considerably fewer grid points for a given calculation than would be necessary for a LES. This conjecture is substantiated by employing FSM to calculate the flow over a backward-facing step and a plane wake behind a bluff body, both at low Mach number, and supersonic axisymmetric wakes. These examples were chosen such that they expose, on the one hand, the inherent difficulties of simulating (physically) complex flows, and, on the other hand, demonstrate the potential of the FSM approach for simulations of turbulent compressible flows for complex geometries.

A Methodology for Simulating Compressible Turbulent Flows

Film cooling is a key technology for improving the thermal efficiency and power output of gas turbines. The trailing-edge section of high-pressure turbine blades can be efficiently cooled by ejecting a film over a cutback on the pressure side of the blade. In this paper, results of Large–Eddy Simulations (LES) are presented that match an existing experimental setup. Altogether, eight simulations with the blowing ratio M varying as the only parameter were performed over a range from M = 0.35 to 1.4. Reasonably good agreement between LES and experiments were obtained for flow field statistics and adiabatic film-cooling effectiveness ηaw. Within a limited range of blowing ratios, an increase in the blowing ratio results in a counter-intuitive decrease of the cooling effectiveness. The present work suggests a mechanism that can explain this behavior. The visualization and analysis of large coherent structures showed that there exists dominant clockwise-rotating structures that can give rise to a combined upstream- and wall-directed turbulent heat flux. This turbulent heat flux represents the main contribution of the total heat flux and causes a significantly intensified thermal mixing process, which in turn results in the counter-intuitive decrease of the cooling effectiveness.

Turbulent Heat Transfer and Large Coherent Structures in Trailing-edge Cutback Film Cooling

Large-eddy simulations (LES) and Reynolds-averaged Navier―Stokes (RANS) calculations of the flow in two asymmetric three-dimensional diffusers were performed. The setup was chosen to match an existing experiment with separation. Both diffusers possess the same expansion ratio but differ in performance. The aim of the present study is to find the least expensive method to reliably and with reasonable accuracy account for the impact of the change in geometry. RANS calculations failed to predict both the extent and location of the separation. In contrast, LES with wall-functions delivered results within the accuracy of the experimental data.

Dominic von Terzi

Papers

Hybrid LES/RANS methods for the simulation of turbulent flows

Direct numerical simulation of complete transition to turbulence via oblique breakdown at Mach 3

A Methodology for Simulating Compressible Turbulent Flows

Turbulent Heat Transfer and Large Coherent Structures in Trailing-edge Cutback Film Cooling

Reliable and Accurate Prediction of Three-Dimensional Separation in Asymmetric Diffusers Using Large-Eddy Simulation