Super-resolution reconstruction of turbulent velocity fields using a generative adversarial network-based artificial intelligence framework

A general super-resolution reconstruction strategy was proposed for turbulent velocity fields using a generative adversarial network-based artificial intelligence framework. Two advanced neural networks, i.e., super-resolution generative adversarial network (SRGAN) and enhanced-SRGAN (ESRGAN), were first applied in fluid mechanics to augment the spatial resolution of turbulent flow. As a validation, the flow around a single-cylinder and a more complicated wake flow behind two side-by-side cylinders were experimentally measured using particle image velocimetry. The spatial resolution of the coarse flow field can be successfully augmented by 42 and 82 times with remarkable accuracy. The reconstruction performances of SRGAN and ESRGAN were comprehensively investigated and compared, including an analysis of the recovered instantaneous flow field, statistical flow quantities, and spatial correlations. The results convincingly demonstrated that both models can reconstruct the high-spatial-resolution flow field accurately even in an intricate flow configuration, and ESRGAN can provide a better reconstruction result than SRGAN in the mean and fluctuation flow field.