Multi-scale physics-informed neural networks for solving high Reynolds number boundary layer flows based on matched asymptotic expansions

Abstract

Multi-scale system remains a classical scientific problem in fluid dynamics, biology, etc. In the present study, a scheme of multi-scale Physics-informed neural networks (msPINNs) is proposed to solve the boundary layer flow at high Reynolds numbers without any data. The flow is divided into several regions with different scales based on Prandtl’s boundary theory. Different regions are solved with governing equations in different scales. The method of matched asymptotic expansions is used to make the flow field continuously. A flow on a semi infinite flat plate at a high Reynolds number is considered a multi-scale problem because the boundary layer scale is much smaller than the outer flow scale. The results are compared with the reference numerical solutions, which show that the msPINNs can solve the multi-scale problem of the boundary layer in high Reynolds number flows. This scheme can be developed for more multi-scale problems in the future.

Keywords

• Physics-informed neural networks (PINNs)
• Multi-scale
• Fluid dynamics
• Boundary layer