Competitiveness of the P-DNS Method Compared to Traditional Turbulence Strategies in the Aerodynamic Simulation of the Ahmed Body

Abstract

Modeling turbulent flow presents a challenge in fluid mechanics. In this context, the PDNS method emerges as an efficient and precise solution, resolving small scales with a fine mesh and large scales with a coarser mesh, significantly reducing computation times. This study explores the application of PDNS to the Ahmed body, adjusting the drag and lift coefficients by comparing them with experimental results. Additionally, the velocity profile over the rear slant, a particularly sensitive region for the turbulence model used, is analyzed. Simulations, conducted with OpenFOAM, include different mesh refinement levels both in the interior flow and near the walls. The results are compared with traditional methods like Spalart-Allmaras and k-omega SST, evaluating their accuracy based on the discretization employed. The study concludes that PDNS is a viable alternative, demonstrating consistent performance across all levels of refinement tested.