On the stability of projection-based model order reduction for convection-dominated laminar and turbulent flows

In the literature on nonlinear projection-based model order reduction for computational fluid dynamics problems, it is often claimed that due to modal truncation, a projection-based reduced-order model (PROM) does not resolve the dissipative regime of the turbulent energy cascade and therefore is numerically unstable. Efforts at addressing this claim have ranged from attempting to model the effects of the truncated modes to enriching the classical subspace of approximation in order to account for the truncated phenomena. The objective of this paper is to challenge this claim. Exploring the relationship between projection-based model order reduction and semi-discretization and using numerical evidence from three relevant flow problems, this paper argues in an orderly manner that the real culprit behind most if not all reported numerical instabilities of PROMs for turbulence and convection-dominated turbulent flow problems is the Galerkin framework that has been used for constructing the PROMs. The paper also shows that alternatively, a Petrov-Galerkin framework can be used to construct numerically stable and accurate PROMs for convection-dominated laminar as well as turbulent flow problems, without resorting to additional closure models or tailoring of the subspace of approximation. It also shows that such alternative PROMs deliver significant speed-up factors. •Challenges instability claims for projection-based model order reduction of turbulent flow models.•Argues that the often-observed instabilities are due to the Galerkin framework used for constructing the reduced-order model.•Demonstrates several Petrov-Galerkin projection-based reduced-order models for convection-dominated and turbulent flow problems.