Numerical simulation of the flow around a circular cylinder at high Reynolds numbers

The viability and accuracy of large-eddy simulation (LES) with wall modeling for high Reynolds number complex turbulent flows is investigated by considering the flow around a circular cylinder in the supercritical regime. A simple wall stress model is employed to provide approximate boundary conditions to the LES. The results are compared with those obtained from steady and unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solutions and the available experimental data. The LES solutions are shown to be considerably more accurate than the RANS results. They capture correctly the delayed boundary layer separation and reduced drag coefficients consistent with experimental measurements after the drag crisis. The mean pressure distribution is predicted reasonably well at Re-D = 5 x 10(5) and 10(6). However, the Reynolds number dependence is not captured, and the solution becomes less accurate at increased Reynolds numbers. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.