The Center for Integrated Turbulence Simulations (CITS) is a multidisciplinary organization established in July 1997 at Stanford University to develop new turbulence models and associated numerical simulation methodologies that will enable a new paradigm for the design of advanced systems in which turbulence plays a controlling role. The initial focus of the CITS is provided by a comprehensive program on gas turbine engines, supported by the Department of Energy (DOE) under its Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative (ASCI).

The DOE is making a significant fraction of its vast supercomputer resources available to its five ASCI university research centers. A key component of the CITS program is research on numerical methods, compilers, operating systems, and computer architectures, driven by and supporting the massively parallel turbulence simulations.

The CITS involves faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and other departments. Key leadership is provided by faculty of the Flow Physics and Computation Division and the Computer Systems Laboratory.

The CITS is closely linked with the Stanford/NASA Center for Turbulence Research (CTR). The CTR has pioneered the use of Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) for study of turbulence physics and assessment of turbulence models, and has led in the development of Large Eddy Simulation (LES) for high Reynolds number turbulent flows. The CTR's experience with parallel supercomputers and parallel compilers dates back to the ILLIAC-IV (1975) and includes almost every other type of supercomputer since developed. The CITS will integrate developments from the CTR with advances in other disciplines to enable the complex systems simulations needed for advanced system design.

Research in CITS will focus initially on the compressor, combustor, and turbine components of aircraft gas turbine engines; subsequently, the component simulations will be integrated to simulate situations in which component interactions are crucial. Unsteady phenomena of interest in these simulations include rotating stall in the compressor, aeroelastic blade vibrations, instabilities in the combustor due to heat release coupling with the acoustic modes, and the heat transfer from the hot combustion products to the first blade rows of the turbine.

In addition to the initial core ASCI program on aircraft engines, the CITS expects to obtain the support of other sponsors for simulation of a variety of important systems involving turbulence. One example involving plasma turbulence is the Hall thruster, a device used by the Russians for satellite station keeping and currently being considered for several US satellites, including the Teledesic constellation.

Through projects such as these, the long term goal of the CITS is to develop simulation technology capable of dealing with systems as complex as a full jet engine and phenomena as complex as the plasma turbulence of a Hall thruster.

Applicants interested in graduate work involved with the CITS should apply to their department of preference (Aeronautics and Astronautics, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering) and indicate interest in CITS research.

Applicants interested in postdoctoral research in the CITS may inquire by email to info@cits.stanford.edu or by mail to: