skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: PDF model calculations of compressible turbulent flows using smoothed particle hydrodynamics

Journal Article · · Journal of Computational Physics
;  [1]
  1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)

A particle method which applies the probability density function (PDF) method to compressible turbulent flows is presented. Solution of the PDF equation is achieved using a Lagrangian/Monte Carlo approach. A unique feature of the method is its ability to calculate the mean pressure gradient directly from the particles using a grid-free approach. This is accomplished by applying techniques borrowed from the field of smoothed particle hydrodynamics. Furthermore, these techniques have been implemented using a recently discovered algorithm which greatly reduces the computational work in 1D. The particle method also incorporates a variance-reduction technique which can significantly reduce statistical error in first and second moments of selected mean flow quantities. When combined with a second-order accurate predictor/corrector scheme, the resulting particle method provides a feasible way to obtain accurate PDF solutions to compressible turbulent flow problems. Results have been obtained for a variety of quasi-1D flows to demonstrate the method`s robustness. These include solutions to both statistically stationary and nonstationary problems, and use both periodic and characteristic-based inflow/outflow boundary conditions. Convergence of the method with respect to four different kinds of numerical errors has also been studied. Detailed results are presented which confirm the expected convergence behavior of each error. 28 refs., 14 figs.

OSTI ID:
535259
Journal Information:
Journal of Computational Physics, Vol. 134, Issue 1; Other Information: PBD: Jun 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English