Abstract

In this paper we present a collection of techniques used to formulate a projection-based reduced order model (ROM) for zero Mach limit thermally coupled Navier–Stokes equations. The formulation derives from a standard proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) model reduction, and includes modifications to improve the drawbacks caused by the inherent non-linearity of the used Navier–Stokes equations: a hyper-ROM technique based on mesh coarsening; an implicit ROM subscales formulation based on a variational multi-scale (VMS) framework; and a Petrov–Galerkin projection necessary in the case of non-symmetric terms. At the end of the article, we test the proposed ROM formulation using 2D and 3D versions of the same example: a differentially heated cavity.

Abstract

In this paper we review and clarify some aspects of the asymptotic analysis of the compressible Navier Stokes equations in the low Mach number limit. In the absence of heat exchange (the isentropic regime) this limit is well understood and rigorous results are available. When heat exchange is considered different simplified models can be obtained, the most famous being the Boussinesq approximation. Here a unified formal justification of these models is presented, paying special attention to the relation between the low Mach number and the Boussinesq approximations. Precise conditions for their validity are given for classical problems in bounded domains.

Abstract

Objective: In this article we study the approximation to thermal turbulence from a strictly numerical point of view, without the use of any physical model. The main goal is to analyze the behavior of our numerical method in the large eddy simulation (LES) of thermally coupled turbulent flows at low Mach number.

Methods: Our numerical method is a stabilized finite element approximation based on the variational multiscale method, in which a decomposition of the approximating space into a coarse scale resolvable part and a fine scale subgrid part is performed. Modeling the subscale and taking its effect on the coarse scale problem into account results in a stable formulation. The quality of the final approximation (accuracy, efficiency as LES model) depends on the particular subscale model. The distinctive features of our approach are to consider the subscales as transient and to keep the scale splitting in all the nonlinear terms. Another important contribution of this work is the extension of the orthogonal subgrid scale method widely tested for incompressible flows to variable density flows, using a density-weighted L 2 product to define the orthogonality of the subscales and the finite element spaces.

Results: Referring to numerical testing, we present numerical results for a laminar testcase validation that shows the dissipative behavior of the different stabilized methods. Then, we present results of the numerical simulation of two turbulent flow problems, the turbulent channel flow with large temperature differences in the wall normal direction at Res ¼ 180, and the turbulent thermally driven cavity with aspect ratio 4. The behavior of the method is evaluated by comparison against results available in the literature obtained using LES and direct numerical simulation (DNS). They are explained based on a careful analysis of the dissipative structure of the method, showing the physical interpretation of the subgrid scale method presented.

Conclusion: The material presented here is a clear indication of the potential of the method to model all kinds of turbulent thermally coupled flows. The formulation is the same in laminar and turbulent regimes

Abstract

In this work we propose a variational multiscale finite element approximation of thermally coupled low speed flows. The physical model is described by the low Mach number equations, which are obtained as a limit of the compressible Navier–Stokes equations in the small Mach number regime. In contrast to the commonly used Boussinesq approximation, this model permits to take volumetric deformation into account. Although the former is more general than the latter, both systems have similar mathematical structure and their numerical approximation can suffer from the same type of instabilities.

We propose a stabilized finite element approximation based on the variational multiscale method, in which a decomposition of the approximating space into a coarse scale resolvable part and a fine scale subgrid part is performed. Modeling the subscale and taking its effect on the coarse scale problem into account results in a stable formulation. The quality of the final approximation (accuracy, efficiency) depends on the particular model.

The distinctive features of our approach are to consider the subscales as transient and to keep the scale splitting in all the nonlinear terms. The first ingredient permits to obtain an improved time discretization scheme (higher accuracy, better stability, no restrictions on the time step size). The second ingredient permits to prove global conservation properties. It also allows us to approach the problem of dealing with thermal turbulence from a strictly numerical point of view.

Numerical tests show that nonlinear and dynamic subscales give more accurate solutions than classical stabilized methods.