Numerical Analysis of Nonlocal Convection — Comparison with Three-dimensional Numerical Simulations of Efficient Turbulent Convection [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1809.04780


We compare 1D nonlocal turbulent convection models with 3D hydrodynamic numerical simulations. We study the validity of closure models and turbulent coefficients by varying the Prandtl number, the P$\acute{e}$clet number, and the depth of the convection zone. Four closure models of the fourth-order moments are evaluated with the 3D simulation data. The performance of the closure models varies among different cases and different fourth-order moments. We solve the dynamic equations of moments together with equations of the thermal structure. Unfortunately, we cannot obtain steady-state solutions when these closure models of fourth-order moments are adopted. The numerical solutions of the down-gradient approximations of the third-order moments, on the other hand, are robust. We calibrate the coefficients of the 1D down-gradient model from the 3D simulation data. The calibrated coefficients are more robust in the cases of deep convection zones. Finally we have compared the 1D steady-state solutions with the 3D simulation results. The 1D model has captured many features appearing in the 3D simulations : (1) $\nabla-\nabla_{a}$ has a U-shape with a minimum value at the lower part of the convection zone. (2) There exists a bump for $\nabla-\nabla_{a}$ near the top of the convection zone when the P$\acute{e}$clet number is large. (3) The temperature gradient can be sub-adiabatic due to the nonlocal effect. Apart from these similarities, the prediction on the kinetic energy flux, however, is unsatisfactory.

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T. Cai
Fri, 14 Sep 18
47/65

Comments: 39 pages, 21 figures, accepted for publication by ApJ