A Dynamic Time Filtering Technique for Hybrid RANS-LES Simulation of Non-Stationary Turbulent Flow

Unsteady turbulent wall bounded flows can produce complex flow physics including temporally varying mean pressure gradients, intermittent regions of high turbulence intensity, and interaction of different scales of motion. As a representative example, pulsating channel flow presents significant challenges for newly developed and existing turbulence models in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The present study investigates the performance of the Dynamic Hybrid RANS-LES (DHRL) model with a newly proposed dynamic time filtering (DTF) technique, compared against an industry standard Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) model, Monotonically Integrated Large Eddy Simulation (MILES), and two conventional Hybrid RANS-LES (HRL) models. Model performance is evaluated based on comparison to previously documented Large Eddy Simulation (LES) results. Simulations are performed for a fully developed flow in a channel with time-periodic driving pressure gradient. Results highlight the relative merits of each model type and indicate that the use of a dynamic time filtering technique improves the accuracy of the DHRL model when compared to a static time filtering technique. A comprehensive evaluation of the results suggests that the DHRL-DTF method provides the most consistently accurate reproduction of the time-dependent mean flow characteristics for all models investigated.