Scale-invariance and turbulence models for large-eddy simulation

Charles Meneveau and Joseph Katz
Department of Mechanical Engineering
The Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland 21218

ABSTRACT: Relationships between small and large scales of motion in turbulent flows are of much interest in the context of Large-Eddy Simulation of turbulence where the small-scales are not explicitly resolved and must be modeled. This paper reviews models that are based on scale-invariance properties of high-Reynolds number turbulence in the inertial range. The review starts with the Smagorinsky model, but the focus is on dynamic and similarity subgrid models, and on evaluating how well these models reproduce the true impact of the small scales on the large-scale physics and how they perform in numerical simulations. Various criteria used to evaluate the model performance are discussed, including the so-called a-posteriori and a priori studies based on direct numerical simulation and experimental data. Issues are addressed mainly in the context of canonical, incompressible flows, but extensions to scalar transport, compressible, and reacting flows are also mentioned. Other recent modelling approaches are briefly introduced.

Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech. 32, p. 1-32 (2000).

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