Towards Peta-scale shock/turbulence computations
Britton Olson, Stanford University
There exist many applications, both in science and engineering, where turbulent fluid flow interacts with shock waves; from shock-boundary layer interactions of turbo-machinery to the medical application of shock wave lithotripsy. Inertial Confinement Fusion uses an imploding beryllium capsule, which involves Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instability amidst spherical shock waves. RT-driven turbulence has also been found to be the main mechanism for accelerating the thermonuclear flames of type Ia supernovae. Recent research has shown that Rayleigh-Taylor instability can cause the formation of shock waves.
Recent developments and advances have been made in the algorithms and numerical schemes that capture discontinuities while maintaining resolution of the turbulent fluctuations. Combined with massive petascale computing power, these techniques allow for new insights and features of the physics to be investigated at a level of detail that before was unrealizable. We present current and past results for such findings, as well as an outlook for future research.
Abstract Author(s): Britton Olson, Prof. Sanjiva Lele, Dr. Johan Larsson, Dr. Eric Johnsen, Dr. Andrew Cook