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A dynamic subgrid-scale model estimates its closure coefficient from the resolved flow as the calculation proceeds. In a common construction, a second, coarser test filter probes interactions among resolved scales, providing information for a subgrid-scale model below the original resolution.^[ref]

Write a bar for the original spatial averaging filter and a hat for the test filter. DefineDirect subtraction gives the Germano identityThe rightmost expression uses only resolved quantities. The identity is exact for these definitions; extrapolating a closure between the filter levels is the modeling step.^[ref]

For instance, suppose a chosen closure writes the deviatoric stresses as ${\tau }^d=CA$ and $T^d=CB$, and assumes $C$ can be taken outside the test filtering. Then $L^d\approx CM$, where $M=B-\hat{A}$. One way to choose $C$ is to minimize ${\sum }_{ij}(L_{ij}^d-C{M}_{ij}{)}^2$. Differentiation giveswhen the denominator is nonzero. This is a least squares fit of a scalar to tensor data. In a one-component illustrative fit, $L^d=0.012$ and $M=0.3$ give $C=0.04$.

The coefficient need not remain positive. Depending on the closure, a negative value can permit turbulent backscatter, but a small denominator can also make an estimate unreliable. Averaging, bounds and treatment of weak strain are additional choices. Dynamically fitting a coefficient does not remove these assumptions or make unresolved motion observable.

The Smagorinsky model approximates the deviatoric subgrid-scale stress using an eddy viscosity determined by the resolved strain-rate tensor:Here ${\bar{S}}_{ij}=({\partial }_j{\bar{u}}_i+{\partial }_i{\bar{u}}_j)/2$, $\Delta$ is the filter length, $C_s$ is dimensionless, and repeated indices use the Einstein summation convention. The Kronecker delta selects the isotropic part. The construction estimates a missing effect from resolved deformation rather than calculating each unresolved eddy.^[ref]

For simple shear flow $\bar{u}=(\gamma y,0,0)$, the only nonzero strain components are ${\bar{S}}_{12}={\bar{S}}_{21}=\gamma /2$, giving $|\bar{S}|=|\gamma |$. Taking $C_s=0.1$, $\Delta =0.02\mathrm{m}$ and $\gamma =10{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}$ yieldsThese are illustrative parameter choices, not a universal fitted constant. The dimensions follow from ${\Delta }^2|\bar{S}|$.

For an incompressible flow, the resolved-to-unresolved kinetic energy transfer isA nonnegative eddy viscosity thus removes resolved kinetic energy and cannot represent local turbulent backscatter. Coefficients and near-wall treatment require physical and numerical judgment.

Joseph Smagorinsky's 1963 atmospheric-circulation experiment used a lateral exchange coefficient based on horizontal deformation and a length scale. The modern three-dimensional expression above extends that strain-dependent modeling idea; it should not be mistaken for the complete original atmospheric model.^[ref]

A subgrid-scale model represents the influence of unresolved motion on the quantities retained in a large eddy simulation. Its need follows directly from the nonlinear velocity product in the Navier-Stokes equations: averaging a product generally differs from multiplying the averages.

Let a bar denote a spatial averaging filter. With constant mass density $\rho$, constant kinematic viscosity $\nu$, and a time-independent translation-invariant filter on an unbounded or periodic domain, filtering the incompressible momentum equation giveswhere repeated indices use the Einstein summation convention, $p$ is pressure, and the subgrid-scale stress in this sign convention isThe assumed filter commutes with the displayed derivatives. The definition of ${\tau }_{ij}$ is exact; a closure must approximate it using available resolved information.^[ref]

For an elementary example, average two equally weighted values of one velocity component, $a$ and $-a$. The mean is zero but the mean square is $a^2$, so the corresponding stress component is $a^2$. A resolved mean alone has lost the information needed to reconstruct that covariance.

The Smagorinsky model closes the deviatoric part with an eddy viscosity:where ${\delta }_{ij}$ is the Kronecker delta, ${\bar{S}}_{ij}=({\partial }_j{\bar{u}}_i+{\partial }_i{\bar{u}}_j)/2$ is the resolved strain-rate tensor, $C_s$ a dimensionless model coefficient and $\Delta$ a characteristic filter width. The isotropic stress can be included in a modified pressure. This strain-dependent viscosity has its historical origin in Joseph Smagorinsky's atmospheric circulation modelling.^[ref][ref]

For an incompressible flow, the model transfers resolved kinetic energy out at the rate per unit massA fixed nonnegative eddy viscosity therefore permits dissipation but excludes local turbulent backscatter. A dynamic subgrid-scale model can instead estimate its coefficient from resolved stresses at two filter levels. This addresses a modelling choice, rather than changing the exact definition of the unresolved stress.^[ref]

Turbulent backscatter is transfer of kinetic energy from unresolved or smaller spatial scales into larger resolved scales. In a large eddy simulation, its sign is defined relative to the chosen spatial averaging filter and subgrid-scale stress. It can occur locally even when the mean energy cascade transfers energy toward small scales.^[ref]

With ${\tau }_{ij}=\overline{u_i{u}_j}-{\bar{u}}_i{\bar{u}}_j$, the stress force in the filtered momentum equation is $-{\partial }_j{\tau }_{ij}$. Multiplying by ${\bar{u}}_i$ givesThe first term transports kinetic energy through space. Because $\tau$ is symmetric, the second is ${\tau }_{ij}{\bar{S}}_{ij}$, the local exchange with unresolved motion. Thus the forward-transfer conventionmakes $\Pi <0$ a gain of resolved kinetic energy.

For a trace-free resolved strain $\bar{S}=\mathrm{diag}(\gamma ,-\gamma ,0)$ and stress $\tau =\mathrm{diag}(a,b,0)$, with nonnegative $a,b$,Taking $\gamma >0$ and $a>b$ produces backscatter even though the stress matrix is positive semidefinite. Positivity of a weighted covariance does not fix the sign of its contraction with an indefinite strain tensor.

The Smagorinsky model with nonnegative eddy viscosity instead gives $\Pi =2{\nu }_t{\bar{S}}_{ij}{\bar{S}}_{ij}\ge 0$. A dynamic subgrid-scale model can allow the reverse sign. Backscatter describes exchange between scales, not negative molecular viscous dissipation or creation of total energy.