The Stretched-Vortex SGS Model in Physical Space

Abstract

The stretched-vortex subgrid stress model for the large-eddy simulation of turbulent flows has been developed to the stage where it can be applied to realistic flow at large Reynolds numbers [1] [2]. The basic assumption of this model [3] is that the subgrid vortex structure consists of straight, stretched vortices containing a nearly axisymmetric subgrid vorticity field. Vortices of this type, such as the Burgers vortex and the stretched-spiral vortex have provided fair quantitative estimates of turbulence fine-scale properties [4]. These structures are probably an oversimplified model of fine-scale turbulence, but may nevertheless contain sufficient of the vortex-stretching and energy cascade physics characteristic of the small scales to provide a reasonable basis for subgrid-stress modelling for LES. The resulting subgrid stresses are Τ_(ij)=K(δ_(ij)−e^v_ie^v_j). (1) where K is the subgrid energy and e_i^ v , i = 1, 2, 3 are the direction cosines of the subgrid vortex axis. The local subgrid dissipation ϵ_(sgs) is equal to the product of K with the component of S_(ij) aligned with the vortex axis. A class of simple models is obtained when it is assumed that the subgrid vortices are aligned with the eigenvectors of the rate-of-strain tensor S_(ij) [1]. Utilizing an assumed Kolmogorov form for the local subgrid energy spectrum, the model estimates the turbulent energy production at the resolved-scale cutoff in terms of the model parameters ϵ and the Kolmogorov prefactor K₀ and adjusts these parameters locally so as to continue the cascade through the cutoff to the subgrid vortex structures where the dissipation takes place.

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