The non-Gaussian statistics of the velocity field in low-resolution large-eddy simulations of homogeneous turbulence

Abstract

A low-resolution (643) large-eddy model of forced homogeneous turbulence is numerically simulated using Kraichnan's eddy viscosity. The introduction of a reliable statistical estimate of the ζp exponents allows one to perform a detailed statistical analysis of the velocity field and shows that the probability distribution functions, the structure functions and the power-law exponents ζp agree with previous numerical and experimental results obtained at much higher effective resolution. This result shows how a simple modelling of the energy transfer produces self-similar dynamics extending to the small scales and obtains the right statistical properties of the velocity field.