Filter (large eddy simulation)

Filtering in the context of large eddy simulation (LES) is a mathematical operation intended to remove a range of small scales from the solution to the Navier-Stokes equations. Because the principal difficulty in simulating turbulent flows comes from the wide range of length and time scales, this operation makes turbulent flow simulation cheaper by reducing the range of scales that must be resolved. The LES filter operation is low-pass, meaning it filters out the scales associated with high frequencies.

Homogeneous filters

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A velocity field produced by a direct numerical simulation (DNS) of homogeneous decaying turbulence. The domain size is L3.
 
The same DNS velocity field filtered using a box filter and Δ = L/32
 
The same DNS velocity field filtered using a box filter and Δ = L/16

Definition in physical space

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The low-pass filtering operation used in LES can be applied to a spatial and temporal field, for example  . The LES filter operation may be spatial, temporal, or both. The filtered field, denoted with a bar, is defined as:[1][2]

 

where   is a convolution kernel unique to the filter type used. This can be written as a convolution operation:

 

The filter kernel   uses cutoff length and time scales, denoted   and   respectively. Scales smaller than these are eliminated from   Using this definition, any field   may be split up into a filtered and sub-filtered (denoted with a prime) portion, as

 

This can also be written as a convolution operation,

 

Definition in spectral space

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The filtering operation removes scales associated with high frequencies, and the operation can accordingly be interpreted in Fourier space. For a scalar field   the Fourier transform of   is   a function of   the spatial wave number, and   the temporal frequency.   can be filtered by the corresponding Fourier transform of the filter kernel, denoted  

 

or,

 

The filter width   has an associated cutoff wave number   and the temporal filter width   also has an associated cutoff frequency   The unfiltered portion of   is:

 

The spectral interpretation of the filtering operation is essential to the filtering operation in large eddy simulation, as the spectra of turbulent flows is central to LES subgrid-scale models, which reconstruct the effect of the sub-filter scales (the highest frequencies). One of the challenges in subgrid modeling is to effectively mimic the cascade of kinetic energy from low to high frequencies. This makes the spectral properties of the implemented LES filter very important to subgrid modeling efforts.

Homogeneous filter properties

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Homogeneous LES filters must satisfy the following set of properties when applied to the Navier-Stokes equations.[1]

1. Conservation of constants
The value of a filtered constant must be equal to the constant,
 
which implies,
 
2. Linearity
 
3. Commutation with derivatives
 
If notation is introduced for operator commutation   for two arbitrary operators   and  , where
 
then this third property can be expressed as
 

Filters satisfying these properties are generally not Reynolds operators, meaning, first:

 

and second,

 

Inhomogeneous filters

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Implementations of filtering operations for all but the simplest flows are inhomogeneous filter operations. This means that the flow either has non-periodic boundaries, causing problems with certain types of filters, or has a non-constant filter width  , or both. This prevents the filter from commuting with derivatives, and the commutation operation leads to several additional error terms:

 

where   is the vector normal to the surface of the boundary   and  [1]

The two terms both appear due to inhomogeneities. The first is due to the spatial variation in the filter size   while the second is due to the domain boundary. Similarly, the commutation of the filter   with the temporal derivative leads to an error term resulting from temporal variation in the filter size,

 

Several filter operations which eliminate or minimize these error terms have been proposed.[citation needed]

Classic large eddy simulation filters

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Turbulent energy spectrum and effect of filtering operations [3]

There are three filters ordinarily used for spatial filtering in large eddy simulation. The definition of   and   and a discussion of important properties, is given.[2]

Box filter

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Box filter in physical and spectral space

The filter kernel in physical space is given by:

 

The filter kernel in spectral space is given by:

 
 
Gaussian filter in physical and spectral space

Gaussian filter

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The filter kernel in physical space is given by:

 

The filter kernel in spectral space is given by:

 
 
Sharp spectral filter in physical and spectral space

Sharp spectral filter

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The filter kernel in physical space is given by:

 

The filter kernel in spectral space is given by:

 

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Sagaut, Pierre (2006). Large Eddy Simulation for Incompressible Flows (Third ed.). Springer. ISBN 3-540-26344-6.
  2. ^ a b Pope, Stephen (2000). Turbulent Flows. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-59886-6.
  3. ^ Laval, Jean-Philippe. "Lecture Notes on DNS and LES for International Masters Program in Turbulence" (PDF). Retrieved 27 January 2020.