On grid resolution requirements for les of wall-bounded flows

Abstract

Grid requirements for LES of wall-bounded flows are considered. The setting is a zero pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer on a flat plate, but the results are intended to be of use generally for the simulation of flows with an important influence of turbulent boundary layers. The basis for the grid estimates are expressions for the thickness and the viscous length scale of a turbulent boundary layer. The literature is reviewed, and a new power law is proposed, the coefficients of which have been determined using recent high-Re experimental data. An estimation for the number of grid points required for NWM-LES is derived, which is more general than previously published such estimates. A complete simulation methodology, including a numerical tripping device for transition to turbulence in the boundary layer, is demonstrated for NWM-LES of a flat plate turbulent boundary layer. The predictive accuracy is assessed by comparison with DNS data.