University of Texas at Austin

Past Event: Oden Institute Seminar

Uncertainty Quantification in Turbulence Modeling

Robert D. Moser , Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, University of Texas at Austin

1:30 – 2:30PM
Wednesday Sep 27, 2017

POB 6.304

Abstract

Many fluid flows of technological interest are turbulent, and in such flows the turbulence has an order-one effect on flow characteristics. Computational models of such flows are commonly used to make predictions in support of design and operations decisions, so the effects of turbulence must be modeled. The most common turbulence modeling approach in applications is Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) modeling, but it is well known that RANS models are in error in many flow situations. How then can we make reliable predictions of turbulent flows with unreliable RANS models? As it happens, this is possible, provided the uncertainties due to the RANS model errors are accounted for. In this talk, we discuss the challenge of computational predictions and uncertainties in RANS models. As an examples, we discuss representations of uncertainty due to RANS model error in turbulent channel flow. Bio Robert D. Moser holds the W. A. "Tex" Moncrief Jr. Chair in Computational Engineering and Sciences and is Professor of Mechanical Engineering in thermal fluid systems. He serves as the Director of the Center for Predictive Engineering and Computational Sciences (PECOS) and Deputy director of the Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences (ICES). Moser received his PhD in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. Before coming to the University of Texas, he was a research scientist at the NASA-Ames Research Center and then a Professor of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics at the University of Illinois. Moser conducts research on the modeling and numerical simulation of turbulence and other complex fluid flow phenomena. He also uses direct numerical simulation to investigate and model turbulent flows, particularly the development and evaluation of large eddy simulation models. Moser has also been working to develop new approaches for the validation of and quantification of uncertainty in computational models and to assess their reliability. He has pursued applications to such diverse systems as reentry vehicles, solid propellant rockets, micro-air vehicles, turbulent combustion, tokamak fusion and energy harvesting. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, and was awarded the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement.

Event information

Date
1:30 – 2:30PM
Wednesday Sep 27, 2017
Location POB 6.304
Hosted by J. Tinsley Oden