RÉSUMÉ

This paper reviews the recent advances made by the author's research group in applying PDF methods to turbulent combustion. Calculations of nonpremixed turbulent jet flames and their comparison to experimental data clearly demonstrate the ability of PDF methods accurately to describe finite-rate turbulence-chemistry interactions including local extinction and re-ignition. Numerical methods and algorithms are crucial to the application of PDF methods to practical combustion problems. The stand-alone particle mesh method used in the code PDF2DV, though convergent, has been found to be inefficient because of a substantial bias error. Consistent hybrid algorithms have been developed which are both accurate and efficient. The method of in situ adaptive tabulation (ISAT) is essential to the computationally efficient implementation of combustion chemistry. Advances to the original algorithm have recently been made. PDF methods are being developed to serve as subgrid scale models in LES of turbulent reactive flows.