Numerical simulations of turbulent flows within an infinite array of randomly placed cylinders

Abstract

We address the task of modelling numerically turbulent flows within random arrays of circular cylinders, relevant for several industrial and environmental applications. Numerical simulations are employed to model infinite domains of randomly placed emergent and rigid cylinders validated by a laboratory database acquired by a PIV system. The main goals are: (i) to discuss the effect of the numerical domain size and the grid resolution on the first and second order moments

and (ii) to characterise the spatial distribution of mean flow and turbulence variables in the drag-wake controlled stratum. Five domains of different sizes (9–44 cylinders) and four grid resolutions were independently tested. The results show that the time-averaged velocity field and the Reynolds stress tensor were not significantly affected by the size of the tested numerical domains. The analysis of the grid resolution influence shows how the results improve with mesh refinement, while none of the tested meshes produces un-physical results. The present work provides guidance on the acceptable compromises, in terms of mesh resolution and domain size, when predicting, with eddy resolving computational fluid mechanics tools, first and second-order moments of turbulent flows within infinite arrays or randomly placed cylinders.