Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) of turbulent flows

Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) is a versatile computational method used primarily for simulating fluid flows and continuum mechanics. Unlike traditional grid- based methods, SPH is a Lagrangian, mesh-free approach that represents fluid or solid domains as a collection of nodes, often called “particles”. Each “particle” carries properties such as mass, position, velocity, and additional physical attributes, allowing the method to naturally adapt to complex, dynamical systems. The advantages of SPH include its mesh-free nature (which avoids the challenges of mesh generation), adaptability and versatility. However, several issues such as numerical stability, imposition of boundary conditions, computational cost, accuracy and convergence, and turbulence modelling require further research and development. In this work, the primary focus is on advancing the accuracy and robustness of the SPH method particularly addressing the challenges associated with boundary condition treatment and turbulence modeling. A significant contribution of the present work is the implementation of the Dynamic Smagorinsky turbulence model. This approach eliminates the need for empirical calibration of turbulence parameters, offering a flexible, locally adaptive model that significantly improves the accuracy of SPH in simulating turbulent flows. Comparative studies demonstrate substantial enhancements in velocity profile predictions, especially in near-wall regions. The practical applicability of the SPH method is further demonstrated through simulations of 3D open channel flow over submerged vegetation, highlighting its relevance to ecohydraulics and environmental modeling.