Field Monte Carlo formulation for calculating the probability density function of a single scalar in a turbulent flow

Abstract

The probability density function (PDF) formulation of one scalar field undergoing diffusion, turbulent convection and chemical reaction is restated in terms of stochastic fields. These fields are smooth in space as they have a length scale similar to that of the PDF. Their evolution is described by a set of stochastic partial differential equations, which are solved using a finite volume scheme with a stochastic source term. The application of this methodology to a particular flow is shown first for a linear source term, with exact analytical solution for the mean and standard deviation, and then for a nonlinear reaction.