Performance evaluation of standard second-order finite volume method for DNS solution of turbulent channel flow

DNS of turbulent flows is usually performed with high resolution meshes which demand high computational power. In addition, most classic studies use spectral methods due to its accuracy and lack of numerical dissipation. However, the effects of mesh refinement on turbulence structure was not much explored in the literature, mainly when finite volume methods (instead of usual spectral ones) are used to integrate the flow equations. In the present paper, DNS of a single phase channel flow is performed solving the primitive variables in space and time domains, using the Finite Volume Method and its influence on turbulence statistics is analyzed based on four different meshes. The results show some differences in turbulent statistics according to the resolution adopted and confirm that a turbulence analysis can be performed in domains without extreme refinement, at least, for lower order statistics.