Suitability of Upwind-Biased Finite Difference Schemes for Large-Eddy Simulation of Turbulent Flows

We have simulated flow past a circular cylinder at a Reynolds number of 3.9 X 10 3 using a solver that employs an energy-conservative second-order central difference scheme for spatial discretization. Detailed comparisons of turbulence statistics and energy spectra in the downstream wake region (7.0 < x/D < 10.0) have been made with the results of Beaudan and Moin and with experiments to assess the impact of numerical diffusion on the flowfield. Based on these comparisons, conclusions are drawn on the suitability of higher-order upwind schemes for LES in complex geometries.