Large eddy simulation of low Mach number flows using dynamic and orthogonal subgrid scales

Objective: In this article we study the approximation to thermal turbulence from a strictly numerical point of view, without the use of any physical model. The main goal is to analyze the behavior of our numerical method in the large eddy simulation (LES) of thermally coupled turbulent flows at low Mach number. Methods: Our numerical method is a stabilized finite element approximation based on the variational multiscale method, in which a decomposition of the approximating space into a coarse scale resolvable part and a fine scale subgrid part is performed. Modeling the subscale and taking its effect on the coarse scale problem into account results in a stable formulation. The quality of the final approximation (accuracy, efficiency as LES model) depends on the particular subscale model. The distinctive features of our approach are to consider the subscales as transient and to keep the scale splitting in all the nonlinear terms. Another important contribution of this work is the extension of the orthogonal subgrid scale method widely tested for incompressible flows to variable density flows, using a density-weighted L-2 product to define the orthogonality of the subscales and the finite element spaces. Results: Referring to numerical testing, we present numerical results for a laminar testcase validation that shows the dissipative behavior of the different stabilized methods. Then, we present results of the numerical simulation of two turbulent flow problems, the turbulent channel flow with large temperature differences in the wall normal direction at Re-tau = 180, and the turbulent thermally driven cavity with aspect ratio 4. The behavior of the method is evaluated by comparison against results available in the literature obtained using LES and direct numerical simulation (DNS). They are explained based on a careful analysis of the dissipative structure of the method, showing the physical interpretation of the subgrid scale method presented. conclusion: The material presented here is a clear indication of the potential of the method to model all kinds of turbulent thermally coupled flows. The formulation is the same in laminar and turbulent regimes. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.