Modeling Complex Turbulent Flows: 7 (ICASE LaRC Interdisciplinary Series in Science and Engineering, 7) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0792355903 ISBN 13: 9780792355908

Publisher: Springer, 1999

Synopsis

Turbulence modeling both addresses a fundamental problem in physics, 'the last great unsolved problem of classical physics,' and has far-reaching importance in the solution of difficult practical problems from aeronautical engineering to dynamic meteorology. However, the growth of supercom­ puter facilities has recently caused an apparent shift in the focus of tur­ bulence research from modeling to direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large eddy simulation (LES). This shift in emphasis comes at a time when claims are being made in the world around us that scientific analysis itself will shortly be transformed or replaced by a more powerful 'paradigm' based on massive computations and sophisticated visualization. Although this viewpoint has not lacked ar­ ticulate and influential advocates, these claims can at best only be judged premature. After all, as one computational researcher lamented, 'the com­ puter only does what I tell it to do, and not what I want it to do. ' In turbulence research, the initial speculation that computational meth­ ods would replace not only model-based computations but even experimen­ tal measurements, have not come close to fulfillment. It is becoming clear that computational methods and model development are equal partners in turbulence research: DNS and LES remain valuable tools for suggesting and validating models, while turbulence models continue to be the preferred tool for practical computations. We believed that a symposium which would reaffirm the practical and scientific importance of turbulence modeling was both necessary and timely.

About this title

Synopsis

The four areas of current turbulence research focused on here are: compressible turbulence, rotating turbulent flows and turbulent flows with significant mean streamline curvature, turbulent boundary layers in unfavourable pressure gradients, and statistically unsteady turbulent flows. Progress in the theoretical analysis and modelling of these flows is reviewed, and likely directions for future research on these topics are indicated. This text provides both general commentaries as well as specialized developments in the field of turbulence modelling. It provides access to both historically validated and accepted results and newer ideas and approaches to the problem of modelling turbulence. Specialized results relevant to the compressible and non-equilibrium nature of turbulence as well as turbulent flows subjected to rotation and mean pressure gradients are also treated. Also of interest, outside the traditional arena of single-point turbulence closures, are articles addressing spectral (two-point) closures, structure function closures, vortex methods and low dimensional models.

There is emphasis on both rigorous mathematical developments and a focus on engineering problems in a field traditionally dominated by empiricism.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0792355903
• ISBN 13: 9780792355908
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 395
• Editor: Salas Manuel D., Hefner Jerry N., Sakell Leonidas