A Clustering-Based Dimensionality Reduction Method Guided by POD Structures and Its Application to Convective Flow Problems

Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) is a widely used linear dimensionality reduction technique, but it often fails to capture critical features in complex nonlinear flows. In contrast, clustering methods are effective for nonlinear feature extraction, yet their application in dimensionality reduction methods is hindered by unstable cluster initialization and inefficient mode sorting. To address these issues, we propose a clustering-based dimensionality reduction method guided by POD structures (C-POD), which uses POD preprocessing to stabilize the selection of cluster centers. Additionally, we introduce an entropy-controlled Euclidean-to-probability mapping (ECEPM) method to improve modal sorting and assess mode importance. The C-POD approach is evaluated using the one-dimensional Burgers’ equation and a two-dimensional cylinder wake flow. Results show that C-POD achieves higher accuracy in dimensionality reduction than POD. Its dominant modes capture more temporal dynamics, while higher-order modes offer better physical interpretability. When solving an inverse problem using sparse sensor data, the Gappy C-POD method improves reconstruction accuracy by 19.75% and enhances the lower bound of reconstruction capability by 13.4% compared to Gappy POD. Overall, C-POD demonstrates strong potential for modeling and reconstructing complex nonlinear flow fields, providing a valuable tool for dimensionality reduction methods in fluid dynamics.