A Finite Volume Approach to Compressible Large Eddy Simulations

We present Large Eddy Simulations of compressible turbulent flow within a finite volume approach with central spatial differencing. Different spatial discretisations yield quite different predictions of fluctuating flow properties although mean and integral flow properties appeared less sensitive. In the case of homogeneous, isotropic, decaying turbulence the Kolmogorov -(5/3) law is reproduced if the convective and viscous fluxes are treated with Simpson’s cell vertex method. For the temporal flat plate exponentially growing unstable modes are recovered in the linear regime. Moreover, a scheme in which the viscous fluxes are treated with a ‘vertex based’ method is required in order to properly capture the saturation of growing fluctuations, due to nonlinear interactions.