Large-eddy simulation of the flow in a lid-driven cubical cavity

TL;DR

This paper presents large-eddy simulations of turbulent flow in a lid-driven cubical cavity at Re=12000 using spectral element methods, comparing two subgrid-scale models and analyzing flow features and turbulence characteristics.

Contribution

It introduces and validates two dynamic subgrid-scale models for LES of cavity flow, providing detailed analysis of turbulence features and flow dynamics in the turbulent regime.

Findings

Both models show very good agreement with experimental data.

Turbulence in the cavity exhibits inhomogeneity and localized small scales.

Flow quantities stabilize over time despite different transient behaviors.

Abstract

Large-eddy simulations of the turbulent flow in a lid-driven cubical cavity have been carried out at a Reynolds number of 12000 using spectral element methods. Two distinct subgrid-scales models, namely a dynamic Smagorinsky model and a dynamic mixed model, have been both implemented and used to perform long-lasting simulations required by the relevant time scales of the flow. All filtering levels make use of explicit filters applied in the physical space (on an element-by-element approach) and spectral (modal) spaces. The two subgrid-scales models are validated and compared to available experimental and numerical reference results, showing very good agreement. Specific features of lid-driven cavity flow in the turbulent regime, such as inhomogeneity of turbulence, turbulence production near the downstream corner eddy, small-scales localization and helical properties are investigated and discussed in the large-eddy simulation framework. Time histories of quantities such as the total energy, total turbulent kinetic energy or helicity exhibit different evolutions but only after a relatively long transient period. However, the average values remain extremely close.