Efficient computation of global resolvent modes

TL;DR

This paper introduces a fast, matrix-free time domain method for computing resolvent modes in fluid flows, enabling efficient analysis of complex turbulent systems with large gain separation.

Contribution

A novel matrix-free approach for resolvent mode computation using time domain integration, significantly reducing computational cost for complex flow problems.

Findings

Achieves an order of magnitude speedup over previous methods

Validates approach with Ginzburg-Landau equation

Successfully applied to 3D flow around a parabolic body

Abstract

Resolvent analysis of the linearized Navier-Stokes equations provides useful insight into the dynamics of transitional and turbulent flows and can provide a model for the dominant coherent structures within the flow, particularly for flows with large gain separation. Direct computation of force and response modes using a singular value decomposition of the full resolvent matrix is feasible only for simple problems; despite recent progress, the cost of resolvent analysis for complex flows remains considerable. In this paper, we propose a new matrix-free method for computing resolvent modes based on integration of the linearized equations and the corresponding adjoint system in the time domain. Our approach achieves an order of magnitude speedup when compared to previous matrix-free time stepping methods by enabling all frequencies of interest to be computed simultaneously. Two different methods are presented: one based on analysis of the transient response, providing leading modes with fine frequency discretization; and another based on the steady-state response to a periodic forcing, providing optimal and suboptimal modes for a discrete set of frequencies. The methods are validated using a linearized Ginzburg-Landau equation and applied to the three dimensional flow around a parabolic body.