Large-eddy simulation study of upstream boundary conditions influence upon a backward-facing step flow

We use Large Eddy Simulation to investigate the influence of upstream boundary conditions on the development of a backward facing step flow. The first inlet condition consists of a mean turbulent boundary layer velocity profile perturbed by a white noise. The second relies upon a precursor calculation where the development of a quasi-temporal turbulent boundary layer is simulated. In this case, the quasi-longitudinal vortices in the upstream turbulent boundary-layer trigger the destabilization of the shear layer just behind the step, resulting in a shortening of the recirculation length and an increase of the characteristic frequency associated to the Kelvin–Helmholtz vortices. The mean flow and the characteristic frequencies of pressure fluctuations are strongly dependent of the upstream flow. It demonstrates the importance of realistic boundary conditions for the simulation of complex 3D flows or for flow control simulations.