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Direct simulations of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are limited to relatively low-Reynolds numbers. Hence, dynamically less complex mathematical formulations are necessary for coarse-grain simulations. Eddy-viscosity models for large-eddy simulation is probably the most popular example thereof: they rely on differential operators that should properly detect different flow configurations (laminar and 2D flows, near-wall behavior, transitional regime, etc.). Most of them are based on the combination of invariants of a symmetric tensor that depends on the gradient of the resolved velocity field, . In this work, models are presented within a framework consisting of a 5D phase space of invariants. In this way, new models can be constructed by imposing appropriate restrictions in this space. For instance, considering the three invariants P GG T , Q GG T , and R GG T of the tensorGG T , and imposing the proper cubic near-wall behavior, i.e., , we deduce that the eddy-viscosity is given by . Moreover, only R GG T -dependent models, i.e., p > - 5/2, switch off for 2D flows. Finally, the model constant may be related with the Vreman’s model constant via ; this guarantees both numerical stability and that the models have less or equal dissipation than Vreman’s model, i.e., . The performance of the proposed models is successfully tested for decaying isotropic turbulence and a turbulent channel flow. The former test-case has revealed that the model constant, C s3pqr , should be higher than 0.458 to obtain the right amount of subgrid-scale dissipation, i.e., C s3pq = 0.572 (p = - 5/2), C s3pr = 0.709 (p = - 1), and C s3qr = 0.762 (p = 0).

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