A novel buoyancy-modified subgrid-scale model for large-eddy simulation of turbulent convection

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a subgrid-scale (SGS) model for large eddy simulation (LES) of buoyancy- and thermally driven transitional and turbulent flows and further examine its performance. Design/methodology/approach Favre-filtered, non-dimensional LES equations are solved using non-dissipative, fully implicit, kinetic energy conserving, finite-volume algorithm which uses an iterative predictor-corrector approach based on pressure correction. Also, to develop a new SGS model which accounts for buoyancy, turbulent generation term in SGS viscosity is properly modified and enhanced by buoyancy production. Findings The proposed model has been successfully applied to turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection. The results show that the model is able to reproduce the complex physics of turbulent thermal convection. In comparison with the original wall-adapting local eddy-viscosity (WALE) and buoyancy-modified (BM) Smagorinsky models, turbulent diagnostics predicted by the new model are in better agreement with direct numerical simulation. Originality/value A BM variant of the WALE SGS model is newly developed and analyzed.