Comparison of conservative and rotational forms in large eddy simulation of turbulent channel flow (Q1822584)

Fully developed turbulent channel flow is studied numerically using large eddy simulation (LES) with a Fourier finite difference method. A prominent feature of this paper lies in the use of a conservative form of the Arakawa type for the convective terms in the Navier-Stokes equations. The results are compared with earlier ones of \textit{P. Moin} and \textit{J. Kim} [J. Fluid Mech. 118, 341-377 (1982; Zbl 0491.76058)] based on the rotational form of the convective terms. Noticeable differences are found in quantities such as turbulence intensities, two point correlations, etc. The difference is most prominent in the grid scale portion of the turbulent shear stress. The present results agree well with the recent direct simulation of a mildly curved channel flow by \textit{R. D. Moser} and \textit{P. Moin} [NASA Technical Memorandum No.85974 (1984); unpublished] using the Fourier-Chebyshev polynomial expansions. An estimate is made of the error inherent in the rotational form combined with the second-order central finite difference method. The relationship between the energy production mechanism and helicity is pointed out.