Influence Of Advection Differencing Error Upon Large-Eddy Simulation Accuracy

Accurate prediction of turbulent features by alarge-eddy simulation (LES) model requires accuratenumerical evaluation of the nonlinear advective terms. In the presence of a mean wind, use of second-order orfourth-order finite differencing produces large lossesof turbulent energy at high wavenumbers, an inaccuracyconsistent with idealized numerical properties ofthese schemes. The discrete differencing inaccuraciesalso affect the small wavenumber ``large eddy''structure and the horizontally-averaged turbulentquantities. With a high accuracy pseudospectraltechnique, this energy loss does not occur andspectral behaviour corresponds to filtered Kolmogorovtheory predictions out to the de-aliasing cutoffwavenumber. The inaccuracy of the finite differenceschemes is greatly ameliorated through a Galileantransformation of the advective term.