Lattice Boltzmann simulations of homogeneous isotropic turbulence

The Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) with a forcing scheme is used to simulate homogeneous isotropic turbulence, and the resolutions of 128(3) and 256(3) are compared. Two models, D3Q 15 and D3Q 19, are used in the investigation. Results demonstrate that the Lattice Boltzmann Method can capture important features of turbulence such as the vortex-like tubes and the Kolmogorov -5/3 power spectrum. Visualization of the elongated vortices using the high rotational identification method, Q, is also presented. For 256(3), a longer range of the Kolmogorov -5/3 slope can be observed than in the case of 128(3) grid points. As the resolution increases, the turbulence characteristics of the flow are found to become similar to those obtained in studies by the spectral method regardless of which model is used. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.