(97b) Emerging Concepts in the Computational Modeling of Mixing and Combustion

The last decade has seen an explosive growth in computational power, which has transformed the modeling of turbulent reacting flows. With the availability of vast computational resources, model-based design of turbulent reactors is now seen as a feasible goal. In this talk, progress in the modeling complex multiscale processes will be first discussed. In particular, the evolution of large eddy simulation (LES) methodology as a predictive computational tool for reactive flows will be presented. To enable computational design, it is important to build confidence in the models. In the second part of the talk, the integration of experiments and modeling to quantify uncertainties will be discussed. An important aspect of this integration is the design of experiments that provide the most information for building model confidence. For this purpose, a new generation of computational tools based on information theory is being developed. A few of these emerging concepts including Bayesian analyses of chemical kinetics and adjoint analyses of reacting flows will be presented.