Hybrid RANS/LES Models for a High-Order Discontinuous Galerkin Scheme: A Comparative Assessment
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In this work we present a comparative study of several variants of DES-like hybrid RANS/LES models, particularly the DDES of Spalart et al. and the IDDES of Shur et al. based on the Spalart-Allmaras (SA) closure, in a high-order framework. The idea is to combine a modern numerics, unstructured and with high order of accuracy on coarse meshes, with a sophisti cated turbulence modeling paradigm. The investigation is conducted using an incompressible modal Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) solver, and is intended to provide a list of the modifications/recalibrations required by DES-like models in a high-order shell. We test some of the newest subgrid scale filters, like that of Reddy et al. and the one of Mockett et al., moreover we suggest various alternatives for the normalization of the modeling length scales. The analysis covers a reasonable range of benchmark problems, i.e. fully developed turbulent channel flows, a backward-facing step flow and a massively separated flow around a NACA0012 foil, but we also include a few preliminary simulations where the RANS mode is equipped with an algebraic transition SA model. The results demonstrate that SA-DDES/IDDES work well even in a high-order DG framework with just some minor adjustments. The high-order numerics and the flexibility of the DG method ensure accuracy in line with results obtained by hybrid low-order schemes, using the same type of meshes at a fraction of the degrees-of-freedom. The most important aspect proved to be the gray area, therefore the subgrid length scale for the LES mode should be selected carefully so as to enable a proper destruction of the eddy viscosity.