Building proper invariants for subgrid-scale eddy-viscosity models

Abstract

Since direct simulations of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are limited to relatively low-Reynolds numbers, dynamically less complex mathematical formulations are necessary for coarse-grain simulations. Eddy-viscosity models for Large-Eddy Simulation is probably the most popular example thereof: they rely on differential operators that should be able to capture well different flow configurations (laminar and 2D flows, near-wall behavior, transitional regime...). Most of them are based on the combination of invariants of a symmetric second-order tensor that is derived from the gradient of the resolved velocity field. In the present work, they are presented in a framework where all the models are represented as a combination of elements of a 5D phase space of invariants. In this way, new models can be constructed by imposing appropriate restrictions in this space. The performance of the proposed models is successfully tested for a turbulent channel flow.