Lattice Boltzmann-based subgrid-scale modeling of fully developed turbulent pipe flow

In this paper, large eddy simulations based on the volumetric strain-stretching (VSS) model and nonequilibrium moments (NM) are carried out to present the simulation of pressure-driven turbulent pipe flow at R e_τ = 180 (based on pipe radius and friction velocity) within a Cartesian coordinate framework. In the formulation of the subgrid-scale model, which can be called the “NM-VSS” model, the shear-strain rate tensor in the VSS model is locally derived through Chapman-Enskog expansion analysis of the NM in the D3Q27 discretization scheme. As the core numerical solver of fluid fields, the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is implemented to resolve momentum transport, coupled with a sharp-interface immersed boundary method for the no-slip boundary at curved walls. Through comparisons with prior direct numerical simulation data, the proposed NM-VSS model shows good performance in terms of accuracy and consistency. In addition, the numerical dissipation of the near-wall region is reduced by using the NM-VSS model as compared with the typical Smagorinsky model, and the isosurface of the viscosity of the former shows better consistency with the vortex structures than the latter. Because of the specificity of the constructed form, the NM-VSS model is suitable for complex boundaries while fitting the parallelism of the LBM itself. Overall, the present work offers a useful extension and detailed information of the current LBM in dealing with turbulent flow with curved boundaries.