scholarly journals Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations with explicit data-driven Reynolds stress closure can be ill-conditioned

2019 ◽  
Vol 869 ◽  
pp. 553-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinlong Wu ◽  
Heng Xiao ◽  
Rui Sun ◽  
Qiqi Wang

Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations with turbulence closure models continue to play important roles in industrial flow simulations. However, the commonly used linear eddy-viscosity models are intrinsically unable to handle flows with non-equilibrium turbulence (e.g. flows with massive separation). Reynolds stress models, on the other hand, are plagued by their lack of robustness. Recent studies in plane channel flows found that even substituting Reynolds stresses with errors below 0.5 % from direct numerical simulation databases into RANS equations leads to velocities with large errors (up to 35 %). While such an observation may have only marginal relevance to traditional Reynolds stress models, it is disturbing for the recently emerging data-driven models that treat the Reynolds stress as an explicit source term in the RANS equations, as it suggests that the RANS equations with such models can be ill-conditioned. So far, a rigorous analysis of the condition of such models is still lacking. As such, in this work we propose a metric based on local condition number function for a priori evaluation of the conditioning of the RANS equations. We further show that the ill-conditioning cannot be explained by the global matrix condition number of the discretized RANS equations. Comprehensive numerical tests are performed on turbulent channel flows at various Reynolds numbers and additionally on two complex flows, i.e. flow over periodic hills, and flow in a square duct. Results suggest that the proposed metric can adequately explain observations in previous studies, i.e. deteriorated model conditioning with increasing Reynolds number and better conditioning of the implicit treatment of the Reynolds stress compared to the explicit treatment. This metric can play critical roles in the future development of data-driven turbulence models by enforcing the conditioning as a requirement on these models.

Author(s):  
Bohua Sun

This paper attempts to clarify an long-standing issue about the number of unknowns in the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations (RANS). This study shows that all perspectives regarding the numbers of unknowns in the RANS stem from the misinterpretation of the Reynolds stress tensor. The current literature consider that the Reynolds stress tensor has six unknown components; however, this study shows that the Reynolds stress tensor actually has only three unknown components, namely the three components of fluctuation velocity. This understanding might shed a light to understand the well-known closure problem of turbulence.


Author(s):  
H. Naji ◽  
O. El Yahyaoui ◽  
G. Mompean

The ability of two explicit algebraic Reynolds stress models (EARSMs) to accurately predict the problem of fully turbulent flow in a straight square duct is studied. The first model is devised by Gatski and Rumsey (2001) and the second is the one derived by Wallin and Johansson (2000). These models are studied using a priori procedure based on data resulting from direct numerical simulation (DNS) of the Navier-Stokes equations, which is available for this problem. For this case, we show that the equilibrium assumption for the anisotropy tensor is found to be correct. The analysis leans on the maps of the second and third invariants of the Reynolds stress tensor. In order to handle wall-proximity effects in the near-wall region, damping functions are implemented in the two models. The predictions and DNS obtained for a Reynolds number of 4800 both agree well and show that these models are able to predict such flows.


Author(s):  
Charles G. Speziale

The high-Reynolds-number turbulent flows of technological importance contain such a wide range of excited length and time scales that the application of direct or large-eddy simulations is all but impossible for the foreseeable future. Reynolds stress models remain the only viable means for the solution of these complex turbulent flows. It is widely believed that Reynolds stress models are completely ad hoc, having no formal connection with solutions of the full Navier-Stokes equations for turbulent flows. While this belief is largely warranted for the older eddy viscosity models of turbulence, it constitutes a far too pessimistic assessment of the current generation of Reynolds stress closures. It will be shown how secondorder closure models and two-equation models with an anisotropic eddy viscosity can be systematically derived from the Navier-Stokes equations when one overriding assumption is made: the turbulence is locally homogeneous and in equilibrium. A brief review of zero equation models and one equation models based on the Boussinesq eddy viscosity hypothesis will first be provided in order to gain a perspective on the earlier approaches to Reynolds stress modeling. It will, however, be argued that since turbulent flows contain length and time scales that change dramatically from one flow configuration to the next, two-equation models constitute the minimum level of closure that is physically acceptable. Typically, modeled transport equations are solved for the turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation rate from which the turbulent length and time scales are built up; this obviates the need to specify these scales in an ad hoc fashion. While two-equation models represent the minimum acceptable closure, second-order closure models constitute the most complex level of closure that is currently feasible from a computational standpoint. It will be shown how the former models follow from the latter in the equilibrium limit of homogeneous turbulence. However, the two-equation models that are formally consistent with second-order closures have an anisotropic eddy viscosity with strain-dependent coefficients - a feature that most of the commonly used models do not possess.


Open Physics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 853-862
Author(s):  
Bohua Sun

Abstract This study revisits the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations and finds that the existing literature is erroneous regarding the primary unknowns and the number of independent unknowns in the RANS. The literature claims that the Reynolds stress tensor has six independent unknowns, but in fact the six unknowns can be reduced to three that are functions of the three velocity fluctuation components, because the Reynolds stress tensor is simply an integration of a second-order dyadic tensor of flow velocity fluctuations rather than a general symmetric tensor. This difficult situation is resolved by returning to the time of Reynolds in 1895 and revisiting Reynolds’ averaging formulation of turbulence. The study of turbulence modeling could focus on the velocity fluctuations instead of the Reynolds stress. An advantage of modeling the velocity fluctuations is, from both physical and experimental perspectives, that the velocity fluctuation components are observable whereas the Reynolds stress tensor is not.


2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. D. Akolekar ◽  
J. Weatheritt ◽  
N. Hutchins ◽  
R. D. Sandberg ◽  
G. Laskowski ◽  
...  

Nonlinear turbulence closures were developed that improve the prediction accuracy of wake mixing in low-pressure turbine (LPT) flows. First, Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) calculations using five linear turbulence closures were performed for the T106A LPT profile at isentropic exit Reynolds numbers 60,000 and 100,000. None of these RANS models were able to accurately reproduce wake loss profiles, a crucial parameter in LPT design, from direct numerical simulation (DNS) reference data. However, the recently proposed kv2¯ω transition model was found to produce the best agreement with DNS data in terms of blade loading and boundary layer behavior and thus was selected as baseline model for turbulence closure development. Analysis of the DNS data revealed that the linear stress–strain coupling constitutes one of the main model form errors. Hence, a gene-expression programming (GEP) based machine-learning technique was applied to the high-fidelity DNS data to train nonlinear explicit algebraic Reynolds stress models (EARSM), using different training regions. The trained models were first assessed in an a priori sense (without running any RANS calculations) and showed much improved alignment of the trained models in the region of training. Additional RANS calculations were then performed using the trained models. Importantly, to assess their robustness, the trained models were tested both on the cases they were trained for and on testing, i.e., previously not seen, cases with different flow features. The developed models improved prediction of the Reynolds stress, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) production, wake-loss profiles, and wake maturity, across all cases.


2013 ◽  
Vol 718 ◽  
pp. 39-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fazle Hussain ◽  
Eric Stout

AbstractWe study the mechanisms of centrifugal instability and its eventual self-limitation, as well as regenerative instability on a vortex column with a circulation overshoot (potentially unstable) via direct numerical simulations of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. The perturbation vorticity (${\boldsymbol{\omega} }^{\prime } $) dynamics are analysed in cylindrical ($r, \theta , z$) coordinates in the computationally accessible vortex Reynolds number, $\mathit{Re}({\equiv }\mathrm{circulation/viscosity} )$, range of 500–12 500, mostly for the axisymmetric mode (azimuthal wavenumber $m= 0$). Mean strain generates azimuthally oriented vorticity filaments (i.e. filaments with azimuthal vorticity, ${ \omega }_{\theta }^{\prime } $), producing positive Reynolds stress necessary for energy growth. This ${ \omega }_{\theta }^{\prime } $ in turn tilts negative mean axial vorticity, $- {\Omega }_{z} $ (associated with the overshoot), to amplify the filament, thus causing instability. (The initial energy growth rate (${\sigma }_{r} $), peak energy (${G}_{\mathit{max}} $) and time of peak energy (${T}_{p} $) are found to vary algebraically with $\mathit{Re}$.) Limitation of vorticity growth, also energy production, occurs as the filament moves the overshoot outward, hence lessening and shifting $\vert {- }{\Omega }_{z} \vert $, while also transporting the core $+ {\Omega }_{z} $, to the location of the filament. We discover that a basic change in overshoot decay behaviour from viscous to inviscid occurs at $Re\sim 5000$. We also find that the overshoot decay time has an asymptotic limit of 45 turnover times with increasing $\mathit{Re}$. After the limitation, the filament generates negative Reynolds stress, concomitant energy decay and hence self-limitation of growth; these inviscid effects are enhanced further by viscosity. In addition, the filament transports angular momentum radially inward, which can produce a new circulation overshoot and renewed instability. Energy decays at the $\mathit{Re}$ studied, but, at higher $\mathit{Re}$, regenerative growth of energy is likely due to the renewed mean shearing. New generation of overshoot and Reynolds stress is examined using a helical ($m= 1$) perturbation. Regenerative energy growth, possibly resulting in even vortex breakup, can be triggered by this new overshoot at practical $\mathit{Re}$ (${\sim }1{0}^{6} $ for trailing vortices), which are currently beyond the computational capability.


Author(s):  
Joost Kranenborg ◽  
Geert Campmans ◽  
Niels Jacobsen ◽  
Jebbe van der Werf ◽  
Robert McCall ◽  
...  

Most numerical studies of sediment transport in the swash zone use depth-averaged models. However, such models still have difficulty predicting transport rates and morphodynamics. Depth-resolving models could give detailed insight in swash processes but have mostly been limited to hydrodynamic predictions. We present a depth-resolving numerical model, based on the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations, capable of modelling sediment transport and morphodynamics in the swash zone.Recorded Presentation from the vICCE (YouTube Link): https://youtu.be/PB8Vs0LJq88


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