Explicit filtering and exact reconstruction of the sub-filter stresses in large eddy simulation

Explicit filtering has the effect of reducing numerical or aliasing errors near the grid scale in large eddy simulation (LES). We use a differential filter, namely the inverse Helmholtz operator, which is readily applied to unstructured meshes. The filter is invertible, which allows the sub-filter scale (SFS) stresses to be exactly reconstructed in terms of the filtered solution. Unlike eddy viscosity models, the method of filtering and reconstruction avoids making any physical assumptions and is therefore valid in any flow regime. The sub-grid scale (SGS) stresses are not recoverable by reconstruction, but the second-order finite element method used here is an adequate source of numerical dissipation in lieu of an SGS model. Results for incompressible turbulent channel flow at Reτ = 180 are presented which show that explicit filtering and exact SFS reconstruction is a significant improvement over the standard LES approach of implicit filtering and eddy-viscosity SGS modelling.