THE SIMULATION AND MODELING OF TURBULENT FLOWS

Abstract: Turbulence features prominently in nature and technology. Our group at the University of Minnesota focuses on fundamental advances in numerical algorithms, and understanding of flow physics that allow the prediction of engineering turbulent flows.  This presentation will discuss key aspects of such simulation alongside illustrative examples.  Special attention has been paid to ensuring robustness and accuracy at high Reynolds numbers without numerical dissipation. The basic ideas behind this methodology will be discussed for incompressible, compressible and reacting flows. Two problems will be discussed as being representative of complex and canonical configurations respectively – propeller crashback and sheet to cloud cavitation. Laminar to turbulent transition induced by surface roughness, and supersonic transverse jets will be presented as illustrative examples of high-speed flows. Finally we will discuss a recently developed subgrid modeling strategy for complex flows.

Biosketch: Krishnan Mahesh received his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, and Masters and PhD degrees from Stanford University. Mahesh was a postdoctoral research associate at the Center for Turbulence Research until 2000 when he joined the University of Minnesota where he is now Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics.  Mahesh’s research involves algorithm development, theoretical analysis and high-fidelity simulation of turbulent flows. A focus of his research is the development of predictive capabilities and physical understanding of multi-physics flows in complex engineering configurations.  Prof. Mahesh is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Fellow of the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute. He is a recipient of the CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation and the Francois N. Frenkiel award from the American Physical Society. He has received the Taylor award for Distinguished Research, McKnight Presidential Fellowship, Guillermo E. Borja award and McKnight Land-Grant Professorship from the University of Minnesota.