Investigation of Numerical Dissipation in Classical and Implicit Large Eddy Simulations

• Main Authors: Moutassem El Rafei, László Könözsy, Zeeshan Rana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2017-12-01
• Series: Aerospace
• Subjects: large eddy simulation; Taylor–Green vortex; numerical dissipation; modified equation analysis; truncation error; MUSCL; dynamic Smagorinsky subgrid-scale model; kinetic energy dissipation
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/4/4/59

The quantitative measure of dissipative properties of different numerical schemes is crucial to computational methods in the field of aerospace applications. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to examine the resolving power of Monotonic Upwind Scheme for Conservation Laws (MUSCL) scheme with three different slope limiters: one second-order and two third-order used within the framework of Implicit Large Eddy Simulations (ILES). The performance of the dynamic Smagorinsky subgrid-scale model used in the classical Large Eddy Simulation (LES) approach is examined. The assessment of these schemes is of significant importance to understand the numerical dissipation that could affect the accuracy of the numerical solution. A modified equation analysis has been employed to the convective term of the fully-compressible Navier–Stokes equations to formulate an analytical expression of truncation error for the second-order upwind scheme. The contribution of second-order partial derivatives in the expression of truncation error showed that the effect of this numerical error could not be neglected compared to the total kinetic energy dissipation rate. Transitions from laminar to turbulent flow are visualized considering the inviscid Taylor–Green Vortex (TGV) test-case. The evolution in time of volumetrically-averaged kinetic energy and kinetic energy dissipation rate have been monitored for all numerical schemes and all grid levels. The dissipation mechanism has been compared to Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) data found in the literature at different Reynolds numbers. We found that the resolving power and the symmetry breaking property are enhanced with finer grid resolutions. The production of vorticity has been observed in terms of enstrophy and effective viscosity. The instantaneous kinetic energy spectrum has been computed using a three-dimensional Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). All combinations of numerical methods produce a k − 4 spectrum at t * = 4 , and near the dissipation peak, all methods were capable of predicting the k − 5 / 3 slope accurately when refining the mesh.