Recent improvements in the Zonal Detached Eddy Simulation (ZDES) formulation

An efficient generalized Zonal Detached Eddy Simulation method (ZDES) is presented, which aims at performing hybrid Reynolds Averaged Numerical Simulation (RANS)/Large Eddy Simulation (LES) calculations for both internal and external aerodynamics problems. It is based on a zonal formulation of the hybrid length scale that allows to combine the zonal approach with the best features of Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (DDES) (Spalart et al. Theor Comput Fluid Dyn 20:181-195, 2006). In other words, the presumed weak point of a zonal approach, namely that the location of separation has to be known in advance, is now overcome. What is more, the problem of slow LES content development in mixing layers when they are treated neither in RANS nor in LES mode is investigated. It is argued that the subgrid length scale Delta(max) = max(Delta x, Delta y, Delta z) entering DDES is physically justified to shield the boundary layer but is definitely not a good subgrid length scale in LES mode. Remedies are proposed based on new zonal subgrid length scales that depend not only on the grid spacing but also on the flow solution and especially on the local vorticity vector. The method is validated on a spatially developing mixing layer as well as in a backward facing step flow and then applied to a three-element airfoil. It is argued in this latter case that a precise control of the RANS mode thanks to a zonal approach is essential. More generally, in all simulated cases in this study, ZDES has proven to be very efficient as regards the behavior in LES mode while retaining the strongest asset of DDES, namely the treatment of the attached boundary layer in RANS mode. The issue of zonal or non-zonal treatment of turbulent flows is also briefly discussed.