A priori tests of one-equation LES modeling of rotating turbulence

Abstract

A priori tests of subgrid-scale (SGS) models are performed using results of 128³ direct numerical simulations for forced isotropic (Re_λ = 100) and rotating turbulence (0.1 < Ro ^ω₃ < 0.4). A range of SGS models is tested varying from algebraic, gradient, and scale similarity, to one-equation viscosity and non-viscosity dynamic structure models. Anisotropy and material frame indifference (MFI) requirements for SGS models in rotating systems are reviewed and used to help construct new models based on the dynamic structure approach. The models are evaluated primarily using correlation and regression coefficients of individual components of the SGS tensor, components of the divergence of the SGS stresses, and the kinetic energy transfer term between large and small scales. For all measures examined, the MFI-consistent dynamic structure models perform significantly better, especially for rotating turbulence.

Acknowledgement

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under grant no. 0500056 and by the NSF Scientific Computing Research Environments in the Mathematical Sciences (SCREMS) under grant no. DMS-0532085. We would like to thank Dr. Yun-Liang Wang for useful discussions and the Engine Research Center at the University of Wisconsin - Madison for providing computing resources.

Notes

*Good on ρ₁₁, ρ₂₂, β₁₁ and β₂₂, but bad on cross terms, ρ _{ij, (i≠ j)} and β _{ij, (i≠ j)}.