  The present study focuses on the assessment of the performance of a Finite
Volume Method based, particle-resolved simulation approach to predict the flow
through a model packed-bed consisting of 21 layers of spheres arranged in the
body centred cubic packing. The unsteady flow developing in the freeboard is
also considered. Two highly-resolved large eddy simulation were preformed, for
two Reynolds numbers, 300 and 500, based on the particle diameter, employing a
polyhedral, boundary-conforming mesh. The geometry and the flow conditions are
set to reproduce the flow conditions investigated in the experiment carried out
by Velten and Z\"ahringer using Particle Image Velocimetry. The numerical
results compare favourably with the measurements both inside and above the bed.
The effect of differences arising between the physical and numerical
configurations are thoroughly discussed alongside the impact of meshing
strategy on the accuracy of the predictions.
