  A Thickened Flame (TF) modeling approach is combined with a Large Eddy
Simulation (LES) methodology to model premixed combustion and the accuracy of
these model predictions is evaluated by comparing with the piloted premixed
stoichiometric methane-air flame data of Chen et al. [Combust. Flame 107 (1996)
233-244] at a Reynolds number Re = 24,000. In the TF model, the flame front is
artificially thickened to resolve it on the computational LES grid and the
reaction rates are specified using reduced chemistry. The response of the
thickened flame to turbulence is taken care of by incorporating an efficiency
function in the governing equations. The efficiency function depends on the
characteristics of the local turbulence and on the characteristics of the
premixed flame such as laminar flame speed and thickness. Three variants of the
TF model are examined: the original Thickened Flame model, the Power-law flame
wrinkling model, and the dynamically modified TF model. Reasonable agreement is
found when comparing predictions with the experimental data and with
computations reported using a probability distribution function (PDF) modeling
approach. The results of the TF model are in better agreement with data when
compared with the predictions of the G-equation approach
