Moment realizability and the validity of the Navier{endash}Stokes equations for rarefied gas dynamics
- Department of Mathematics and Program in Applied Mathematics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 85721 (United States)
- School of Mathematics, Institute of Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540 (United States)
- Applied Theoretical and Computational Physics Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545 (United States)
We present criteria for monitoring the validity of the Navier{endash}Stokes approximation during the simulation of a rarefied gas. Our approach is based on an underlying kinetic formulation through which one can construct nondimensional non-negative definite matrices from moments of the molecular distribution. We then identify one such 3{times}3 matrix that can be evaluated intrinsically in the Navier{endash}Stokes approximation. Our criteria are based on deviations of the eigenvalues of this matrix from their equilibrium value of unity. Not being tied to a particular benchmark problem, the resulting criteria are portable and may be applied to any Navier{endash}Stokes simulation. We study its utility here by comparing stationary planar shock profiles computed using the Navier{endash}Stokes equations with those computed using Monte Carlo simulations. {copyright} {ital 1998 American Institute of Physics.}
- OSTI ID:
- 300076
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Fluids (1994), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids (1994) Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 10; ISSN 1070-6631; ISSN PHFLE6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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