Predictive Turbulence Modeling with Bayesian Inference and Physics-Informed Machine Learning

dc.contributor.authorWu, Jinlongen
dc.contributor.committeechairXiao, Hengen
dc.contributor.committeechairPaterson, Eric G.en
dc.contributor.committeememberRoy, Christopher J.en
dc.contributor.committeememberLowe, K. Todden
dc.contributor.departmentAerospace and Ocean Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2018-09-26T08:00:24Zen
dc.date.available2018-09-26T08:00:24Zen
dc.date.issued2018-09-25en
dc.description.abstractReynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations are widely used for engineering design and analysis involving turbulent flows. In RANS simulations, the Reynolds stress needs closure models and the existing models have large model-form uncertainties. Therefore, the RANS simulations are known to be unreliable in many flows of engineering relevance, including flows with three-dimensional structures, swirl, pressure gradients, or curvature. This lack of accuracy in complex flows has diminished the utility of RANS simulations as a predictive tool for engineering design, analysis, optimization, and reliability assessments. Recently, data-driven methods have emerged as a promising alternative to develop the model of Reynolds stress for RANS simulations. In this dissertation I explore two physics-informed, data-driven frameworks to improve RANS modeled Reynolds stresses. First, a Bayesian inference framework is proposed to quantify and reduce the model-form uncertainty of RANS modeled Reynolds stress by leveraging online sparse measurement data with empirical prior knowledge. Second, a machine-learning-assisted framework is proposed to utilize offline high-fidelity simulation databases. Numerical results show that the data-driven RANS models have better prediction of Reynolds stress and other quantities of interest for several canonical flows. Two metrics are also presented for an a priori assessment of the prediction confidence for the machine-learning-assisted RANS model. The proposed data-driven methods are also applicable to the computational study of other physical systems whose governing equations have some unresolved physics to be modeled.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralReynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations are widely used for engineering design and analysis involving turbulent flows. In RANS simulations, the Reynolds stress needs closure models and the existing models have large model-form uncertainties. Therefore, the RANS simulations are known to be unreliable in many flows of engineering relevance, including flows with three-dimensional structures, swirl, pressure gradients, or curvature. This lack of accuracy in complex flows has diminished the utility of RANS simulations as a predictive tool for engineering design, analysis, optimization, and reliability assessments. Recently, data-driven methods have emerged as a promising alternative to develop the model of Reynolds stress for RANS simulations. In this dissertation I explore two physics-informed, data-driven frameworks to improve RANS modeled Reynolds stresses. First, a Bayesian inference framework is proposed to quantify and reduce the model-form uncertainty of RANS modeled Reynolds stress by leveraging online sparse measurement data with empirical prior knowledge. Second, a machine-learning-assisted framework is proposed to utilize offline high fidelity simulation databases. Numerical results show that the data-driven RANS models have better prediction of Reynolds stress and other quantities of interest for several canonical flows. Two metrics are also presented for an a priori assessment of the prediction confidence for the machine-learning-assisted RANS model. The proposed data-driven methods are also applicable to the computational study of other physical systems whose governing equations have some unresolved physics to be modeled.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:17277en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/85129en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectTurbulence modelingen
dc.subjectRANSen
dc.subjectModel-form uncertaintyen
dc.subjectData-drivenen
dc.subjectUncertainty quantificationen
dc.subjectBayesian Inferenceen
dc.subjectMachine learningen
dc.titlePredictive Turbulence Modeling with Bayesian Inference and Physics-Informed Machine Learningen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineAerospace Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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