James Tyacke

Bio: James Tyacke is an academic researcher from University of Cambridge. The author has contributed to research in topics: Large eddy simulation & Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations. The author has an hindex of 14, co-authored 45 publications receiving 459 citations. Previous affiliations of James Tyacke include Brunel University London.

Future Use of Large Eddy Simulation in Aero‐engines

Abstract: © 2015 by ASME. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become a critical tool in the design of aero-engines. Increasing demand for higher efficiency, performance, and reduced emissions of noise and pollutants has focused attention on secondary flows, small scale internal flows, and flow interactions. In conjunction with low order correlations and experimental data, RANS (Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes) modeling has been used effectively for some time, particularly at high Reynolds numbers and at design conditions. However, the range of flows throughout an engine is vast, with most, in reality being inherently unsteady. There are many cases where RANS can perform poorly, particularly in zones characterized by strong streamline curvature, separation, transition, relaminarization, and heat transfer. The reliable use of RANS has also been limited by its strong dependence on turbulence model choice and related ad-hoc corrections. For complex flows, large-eddy simulation (LES) methods provide reliable solutions, largely independent of turbulence model choice, and at a relatively low cost for particular flows. LES can now be used to provide in depth knowledge of flow physics, for example, in areas such as transition and real wall roughness effects. This can be used to inform RANS and lower order modeling (LOM). For some flows, LES can now even be used for design. Existing literature is used to show the potential of LES for a range of flows in different zones of the engine. Based on flow taxonomy, best practices including RANS/LES zonalization, meshing requirements, and turbulent inflow conditions are introduced, leading to the proposal of a tentative expert system for industrial use. In this way, LES becomes a well controlled tool, suitable for design use and reduces the burden on the end user. The problem sizes tackled however have lagged behind potential computing power, hence future LES use at scale requires substantial progress in several key areas. Current and future solver technologies are thus examined and the potential current and future use of LES is considered.

Direct numerical simulation of a wall jet: flow physics

Abstract: A direct numerical simulation (DNS) of a plane wall jet is performed at a Reynolds number of . The streamwise length of the domain is long enough to achieve self-similarity for the mean flow and the Reynolds shear stress. This is the highest Reynolds number wall jet DNS for a large domain achieved to date. The high resolution simulation reveals the unsteady flow field in great detail and shows the transition process in the outer shear layer and inner boundary layer. Mean flow parameters of maximum velocity decay, wall shear stress, friction coefficient and jet spreading rate are consistent with several other studies reported in the literature. Mean flow, Reynolds normal and shear stress profiles are presented with various scalings, revealing the self-similar behaviour of the wall jet. The Reynolds normal stresses do not show complete similarity for the given Reynolds number and domain length. Previously published inner layer budgets based on LES are inaccurate and those that have been measured are only available in the outer layer. The current DNS provides fully balanced, explicitly calculated budgets for the turbulence kinetic energy, Reynolds normal stresses and Reynolds shear stress in both the inner and outer layers. The budgets are scaled with inner and outer variables. The inner-scaled budgets in the near wall region show great similarity with turbulent boundary layers. The only remarkable difference is for the turbulent diffusion in the wall-normal Reynolds stress and Reynolds shear stress budgets. The outer layer interacts with the inner layer through turbulent diffusion and the excess energy from the wall-normal direction is transferred to the spanwise direction.

Large Eddy Simulation for Turbines: Methodologies, Cost and Future Outlooks

Abstract: Flows throughout different zones of turbines have been investigated using large eddy simulation (LES) and hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes-LES (RANS-LES) methods and contrasted with RANS modeling, which is more typically used in the design environment. The studied cases include low and high-pressure turbine cascades, real surface roughness effects, internal cooling ducts, trailing edge cut-backs, and labyrinth and rim seals. Evidence is presented that shows that LES and hybrid RANS-LES produces higher quality data than RANS/URANS for a wide range of flows. The higher level of physics that is resolved allows for greater flow physics insight, which is valuable for improving designs and refining lower order models. Turbine zones are categorized by flow type to assist in choosing the appropriate eddy resolving method and to estimate the computational cost.

Hybrid LES Approach for Practical Turbomachinery Flows-Part I: Hierarchy and Example Simulations

Abstract: Unlike Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) models which need calibration for different flow classes, LES (where larger turbulent structures are resolved by the grid and smaller modeled in a fashion reminiscent of RANS) offers the opportunity to resolve geometry dependent turbulence as found in complex internal flows — albeit at substantially higher computational cost. Based on the results for a broad range of studies involving different numerical schemes, LES models and grid topologies an LES hierarchy and hybrid LES related approach is proposed. With the latter, away from walls, no LES model is used, giving what can be termed Numerical LES (NLES). This is relatively computationally efficient and makes use of the dissipation present in practical industrial CFD programs. Near walls, RANS modeling is used to cover over numerous small structures, the LES resolution of which is generally intractable with current computational power. The linking of the RANS and NLES zones through a Hamilton-Jacobi equation is advocated. The RANS-NLES hybridization makes further sense for compressible flow solvers, where, as the Mach number tends to zero at walls, excessive dissipation can occur. The hybrid strategy is used to predict flow over a rib roughened surface and a jet impinging on a convex surface. These cases are important for blade cooling and show encouraging results. Further results are presented in a companion paper.Copyright © 2010 by Rolls-Royce plc

New insights into large eddy simulation

Abstract: 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.

A Ghost-Cell Immersed Boundary Method for Flow in Complex Geometry

Abstract: An efficient ghost-cell immersed boundary method (GCIBM) for simulating turbulent flows in complex geometries is presented. A boundary condition is enforced through a ghost cell method. The reconstruction procedure allows systematic development of numerical schemes for treating the immersed boundary while preserving the overall second-order accuracy of the base solver. Both Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions can be treated. The current ghost cell treatment is both suitable for staggered and non-staggered Cartesian grids. The accuracy of the current method is validated using flow past a circular cylinder and large eddy simulation of turbulent flow over a wavy surface. Numerical results are compared with experimental data and boundary-fitted grid results. The method is further extended to an existing ocean model (MITGCM) to simulate geophysical flow over a three-dimensional bump. The method is easily implemented as evidenced by our use of several existing codes.

Wall-Modeled Large-Eddy Simulation for Complex Turbulent Flows

Abstract: Large-eddy simulation (LES) has proven to be a computationally tractable approach to simulate unsteady turbulent flows. However, prohibitive resolution requirements induced by near-wall eddies in high–Reynolds number boundary layers necessitate the use of wall models or approximate wall boundary conditions. We review recent investigations in wall-modeled LES, including the development of novel approximate boundary conditions and the application of wall models to complex flows (e.g., boundary-layer separation, shock/boundary-layer interactions, transition). We also assess the validity of underlying assumptions in wall-model derivations to elucidate the accuracy of these investigations, and offer suggestions for future studies.

Inflow Turbulence Generation Methods

Abstract: Research activities on inflow turbulence generation methods have been vigorous over the past quarter century, accompanying advances in eddy-resolving computations of spatially developing turbulent flows with direct numerical simulation, large-eddy simulation (LES), and hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes–LES. The weak recycling method, rooted in scaling arguments on the canonical incompressible boundary layer, has been applied to supersonic boundary layer, rough surface boundary layer, and microscale urban canopy LES coupled with mesoscale numerical weather forecasting. Synthetic methods, originating from analytical approximation to homogeneous isotropic turbulence, have branched out into several robust methods, including the synthetic random Fourier method, synthetic digital filtering method, synthetic coherent eddy method, and synthetic volume forcing method. This article reviews major progress in inflow turbulence generation methods with an emphasis on fundamental ideas, key milestones, representati...

Reconstruction of turbulent fluctuations for hybrid RANS/LES simulations using a synthetic-eddy method

Abstract: Abstract A coupling methodology between an upstream Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulation and a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) further downstream is presented. The focus of this work is on the RANS-to-LES interface inside an attached turbulent boundary layer, where an unsteady LES content has to be explicitly generated from a steady RANS solution. The performance of the Synthetic-Eddy Method (SEM), which generates realistic synthetic eddies at the inflow of the LES, is investigated on a wide variety of turbulent flows, from simple channel and square duct flows to the flow over an airfoil trailing edge. The SEM is compared to other existing methods of generation of synthetic turbulence for LES, and is shown to reduce substantially the distance required to develop realistic turbulence downstream of the inlet.