Computation of complex turbulent flow using matrix-free implicit dual time-stepping scheme and LRN turbulence model on unstructured grids

In this study, a matrix-free implicit dual time-stepping method has been developed. It is implemented, together with a low-Reynolds-number q-ω turbulence model, in a high-order upwind finite-volume solver on unstructured grids. Semi-implicit treatment of the source terms of the q and ω equations is also introduced to further stabilize the numerical solution. It has been found that these techniques provide strong stabilization in the computation of a supersonic flow with complex shock-boundary-layer interactions in a channel with a backward-facing step. The proposed method has a low-memory overhead, similar to an explicit scheme, while it shows good stability and computational efficiency as an implicit scheme. The method developed has been validated by comparing the computed results with the corresponding experimental measurements and other calculated results, which shows good agreement. Research is being done to extend the method to calculate unsteady turbulent flows.