  Rotating turbulent flows form a challenging test case for large-eddy
simulation (LES). We, therefore, propose and validate a new subgrid-scale (SGS)
model for such flows. The proposed SGS model consists of a dissipative eddy
viscosity term as well as a nondissipative term that is nonlinear in the
rate-of-strain and rate-of-rotation tensors. The two corresponding model
coefficients are a function of the vortex stretching magnitude. Therefore, the
model is consistent with many physical and mathematical properties of the
Navier-Stokes equations and turbulent stresses, and is easy to implement. We
determine the two model constants using a nondynamic procedure that takes into
account the interaction between the model terms. Using detailed direct
numerical simulations (DNSs) and LESs of rotating decaying turbulence and
spanwise-rotating plane-channel flow, we reveal that the two model terms
respectively account for dissipation and backscatter of energy, and that the
nonlinear term improves predictions of the Reynolds stress anisotropy near
solid walls. We also show that the new SGS model provides good predictions of
rotating decaying turbulence and leads to outstanding predictions of
spanwise-rotating plane-channel flow over a large range of rotation rates for
both fine and coarse grid resolutions. Moreover, the new nonlinear model
performs as well as the dynamic Smagorinsky and scaled anisotropic
minimum-dissipation models in LESs of rotating decaying turbulence and
outperforms these models in LESs of spanwise-rotating plane-channel flow,
without requiring (dynamic) adaptation or near-wall damping of the model
constants.
