Evaluation of one‐ and two‐equation low‐Re turbulence models. Part II—Vortex‐generator jet and diffusing S‐duct flows

This second segment of the two‐part paper systematically examines several turbulence models in the context of two flows, namely a vortex flow created by an inclined jet in crossflow, and the flow field in a diffusing S‐shaped duct. The test cases are chosen on the basis of availability of high‐quality and detailed experimental data. The tested turbulence models are integrated to solid surfaces and consist of: Rodi's two‐layer k–ε model, Wilcox's k–ω model, Menter's two‐equation shear–stress‐transport model, and the one‐equation model of Spalart and Allmaras. The objective of the study is to establish the prediction accuracy of these turbulence models with respect to three‐dimensional separated flows with streamline curvature. At the same time, the study establishes the minimum spatial resolution requirements for each of these turbulence closures, and identifies the proper low‐Mach‐number preconditioning and artificial diffusion settings of a Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes algorithm for optimum rate of convergence and minimum adverse impact on prediction accuracy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A two‐scale low‐Reynolds number turbulence model

In this study, a two‐scale low‐Reynolds number turbulence model is proposed. The Kolmogorov turbulence time scale, based on fluid kinematic viscosity and the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy (ν, ε), is adopted to address the viscous effects and the rapid increasing of dissipation rate in the near‐wall region. As a wall is approached, the turbulence time scale transits smoothly from a turbulent kinetic energy based (k, ε) scale to a (ν, ε) scale. The damping functions of the low‐Reynolds number models can thus be simplified and the near‐wall turbulence characteristics, such as the ε distribution, are correctly reproduced. The proposed two‐scale low‐Reynolds number turbulence model is first examined in detail by predicting a two‐dimensional channel flow, and then it is applied to predict a backward‐facing step flow. Numerical results are compared with the direct numerical simulation (DNS) budgets, experimental data and the model results of Chien, and Lam and Bremhorst respectively. It is proved that the proposed two‐scale model indeed improves the predictions of the turbulent flows considered. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of one‐ and two‐equation low‐Re turbulence models. Part I—Axisymmetric separating and swirling flows

This first segment of the two‐part paper systematically examines several turbulence models in the context of three flows, namely a simple flat‐plate turbulent boundary layer, an axisymmetric separating flow, and a swirling flow. The test cases are chosen on the basis of availability of high‐quality and detailed experimental data. The tested turbulence models are integrated to solid surfaces and consist of: Rodi's two‐layer k–ε model, Chien's low‐Reynolds number k–ε model, Wilcox's k–ω model, Menter's two‐equation shear‐stress‐transport model, and the one‐equation model of Spalart and Allmaras. The objective of the study is to establish the prediction accuracy of these turbulence models with respect to axisymmetric separating flows, and flows of high streamline curvature. At the same time, the study establishes the minimum spatial resolution requirements for each of these turbulence closures, and identifies the proper low‐Mach‐number preconditioning and artificial diffusion settings of a Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes algorithm for optimum rate of convergence and minimum adverse impact on prediction accuracy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computation of turbulent free‐surface flows around modern ships

This paper presents the calculated results for three classes of typical modern ships in modelling of ship‐generated waves. Simulations of turbulent free‐surface flows around ships are performed in a numerical water tank, based on the FINFLO‐RANS SHIP solver developed at Helsinki University of Technology. The Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations with the artificial compressibility and the non‐linear free‐surface boundary conditions are discretized by means of a cell‐centred finite‐volume scheme. The convergence performance is improved with the multigrid method. A free surface is tracked using a moving mesh technology, in which the non‐linear free‐surface boundary conditions are given on the actual location of the free surface. Test cases recommended are a container ship, a US Navy combatant and a tanker. The calculated results are compared with the experimental data available in the literature in terms of the wave profiles, wave pattern, and turbulent flow fields for two turbulence models, Chien's low Reynolds number k–εmodel and Baldwin–Lomax's model. Furthermore, the convergence performance, the grid refinement study and the effect of turbulence models on the waves have been investigated. Additionally, comparison of two types of the dynamic free‐surface boundary conditions is made. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley& Sons, Ltd.     

On the construction of manufactured solutions for one and two‐equation eddy‐viscosity models

This paper presents manufactured solutions (MSs) for some well‐known eddy‐viscosity turbulence models, viz. the Spalart & Allmaras one‐equation model and the TNT and BSL versions of the two‐equation k–ω model. The manufactured flow solutions apply to two‐dimensional, steady, wall‐bounded, incompressible, turbulent flows. The two velocity components and the pressure are identical for all MSs, but various alternatives are considered for specifying the eddy‐viscosity and other turbulence quantities in the turbulence models. The results obtained for the proposed MSs with a second‐order accurate numerical method show that the MSs for turbulence quantities must be constructed carefully to avoid instabilities in the numerical solutions. This behaviour is model dependent: the performance of the Spalart & Allmaras and k–ω models is significantly affected by the type of MS. In one of the MSs tested, even the two versions of the k–ω model exhibit significant differences in the convergence properties. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On coupling the Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes equations with two‐equation turbulence model equations

Two methods for coupling the Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes equations with the q–ω turbulence model equations on structured grid systems have been studied; namely a loosely coupled method and a strongly coupled method. The loosely coupled method first solves the Navier–Stokes equations with the turbulent viscosity fixed. In a subsequent step, the turbulence model equations are solved with all flow quantities fixed. On the other hand, the strongly coupled method solves the Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes equations and the turbulence model equations simultaneously. In this paper, numerical stabilities of both methods in conjunction with the approximated factorization‐alternative direction implicit method are analysed. The effect of the turbulent kinetic energy terms in the governing equations on the convergence characteristics is also studied. The performance of the two methods is compared for several two‐ and three‐dimensional problems. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flows through plane sudden‐expansions

A calculation method has been developed and used to represent flows downstream of plane symmetric expansions with dimensions and velocities encompassing laminar and turbulent flows. Except for very low Reynolds numbers, the flows are time‐dependent and asymmetric and the calculated results are appraised first in relation to published measurements of laminar flows and then to new measurements obtained at a Reynolds number of 26 500. The time‐dependent laminar simulations indicate that the critical Reynolds numbers are predicted with excellent accuracy for different expansion ratios and the details of the asymmetric velocity profiles are in good agreement with experimental measurements. The laminar flow calculations also show that increasing the thickness of the separating boundary layer leads to longer regions of separation and no dominant frequency for Reynolds numbers up to those at which the third separation region was observed. The turbulent flow simulations made use of the k–ε turbulence model and provided a satisfactory representation of measurements, except in regions close to the wall and within the recirculation regions. Also, the longer reattachment length was underestimated. Limitations are discussed in relation to these and higher‐order assumptions. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Time‐dependent turbulent cavitating flow computations with interfacial transport and filter‐based models

Turbulent cavitating flow computations need to address both cavitation and turbulence modelling issues. A recently developed interfacial dynamics‐based cavitation model (IDCM) incorporates the interfacial transport into the computational modelling of cavitation dynamics. For time‐dependent flows, it is known that the engineering turbulence closure such as the original k–ε model often over‐predicts the eddy viscosity values reducing the unsteadiness. A recently proposed filter‐based modification has shown that it can effectively modulate the eddy viscosity, rendering better simulation capabilities for time‐dependent flow computations in term of the unsteady characteristics. In the present study, the IDCM along with the filter‐based k–ε turbulence model is adopted to simulate 2‐D cavitating flows over the Clark‐Y airfoil. The chord Reynolds number is Re=7.0 × 10⁵. Two angles‐of‐attack of 5 and 8° associated with several cavitation numbers covering different flow regimes are conducted. The simulation results are assessed with the experimental data including lift, drag and velocity profiles. The interplay between cavitation and turbulence models reveals substantial differences in time‐dependent flow results even though the time‐averaged characteristics are similar. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Near‐wall profiles of mean flow and turbulence quantities predicted by eddy‐viscosity turbulence models

This paper presents for the simple flow over a flat plate the near‐wall profiles of mean flow and turbulence quantities determined with seven eddy‐viscosity turbulence models: the one‐equation turbulence models of Menter and Spalart & Allmaras; the k‐ω two‐equation model proposed by Wilcox and its TNT, BSL and SST variants and the $k-\sqrt{k}L$ two‐equation model. The results are obtained at several Reynolds numbers ranging from 10⁷ to 2.5 × 10⁹. Sets of nine geometrically similar Cartesian grids are adopted to demonstrate that the numerical uncertainty of the finest grid predictions is negligible. The profiles obtained numerically have relevance for the application of so‐called ‘wall function’ boundary conditions. Such wall functions refer to assumptions about the flow in the viscous sublayer and the ‘log law’ region. It turns out that these assumptions are not always satisfied by our results, which are obtained by computing the flow with full near‐wall resolution. In particular, the solution in the ‘log‐law’ region is dependent on the turbulence model and on the Reynolds number, which is a disconcerting result for those who apply wall functions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prediction of developing turbulent flow in 90°‐curved ducts using linear and non‐linear low‐Re k–ε models

This paper reports the outcome of applying two different low‐Reynolds‐number eddy‐viscosity models to resolve the complex three‐dimensional motion that arises in turbulent flows in ducts with 90^° bends. For the modelling of turbulence, the Launder and Sharma low‐Re k–ε model and a recently produced variant of the cubic non‐linear low‐Re k–ε model have been employed. In this paper, developing turbulent flow through two different 90^° bends is examined: a square bend, and a rectangular bend with an aspect ratio of 6. The numerical results indicate that for the bend of square cross‐section the curvature induces a strong secondary flow, while for the rectangular cross‐section the secondary motion is confined to the corner regions. For both curved ducts, the secondary motion persists downstream of the bend and eventually slowly disappears. For the bend of square cross‐section, comparisons indicate that both turbulence models can produce reasonable predictions. For the bend of rectangular cross‐section, for which a wider range of data is available, while both turbulence models produce satisfactory predictions of the mean flow field, the non‐linear k–ε model returns superior predictions of the turbulence field and also of the pressure and friction coefficients. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Implicit meanflow–multigrid algorithms for Reynolds stress model computation of 3‐D anisotropy‐driven and compressible flows

The present paper investigates the multigrid (MG) acceleration of compressible Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes computations using Reynolds‐stress model 7‐equation turbulence closures, as well as lower‐level 2‐equation models. The basic single‐grid SG algorithm combines upwind‐biased discretization with a subiterative local‐dual‐time‐stepping time‐integration procedure. MG acceleration, using characteristic MG restriction and prolongation operators, is applied on meanflow variables only (MF–MG), turbulence variables being simply injected onto coarser grids. A previously developed non‐time‐consistent (for steady flows) full‐approximation‐multigrid (s–MG) is assessed for 3‐D anisotropy‐driven and/or separated flows, which are dominated by the convergence of turbulence variables. Even for these difficult test cases CPU‐speed‐ups r_CPUSUP∈[3, 5] are obtained. Alternative, potentially time‐consistent approaches (unsteady u–MG), where MG acceleration is applied at each subiteration, are also examined, using different subiterative strategies, MG cycles, and turbulence models. For 2‐D shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interaction, the fastest s–MG approach, with a V(2, 0) sawtooth cycle, systematically yields CPU‐speed‐ups of 5±½, quasi‐independent of the particular turbulence closure used. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SPH computation of plunging waves using a 2‐D sub‐particle scale (SPS) turbulence model

The paper presents a 2‐D large eddy simulation (LES) modelling approach to investigate the properties of the plunging waves. The numerical model is based on the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method. SPH is a mesh‐free Lagrangian particle approach which is capable of tracking the free surfaces of large deformation in an easy and accurate way. The Smagorinsky model is used as the turbulence model due to its simplicity and effectiveness. The proposed 2‐D SPH–LES model is applied to a cnoidal wave breaking and plunging over a mild slope. The computations are in good agreement with the documented data. Especially the computed turbulence quantities under the breaking waves agree better with the experiments as compared with the numerical results obtained by using the k–ε model. The sensitivity analyses of the SPH–LES computations indicate that both the turbulence model and the spatial resolution play an important role in the model predictions and the contributions from the sub‐particle scale (SPS) turbulence decrease with the particle size refinement. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the performance of sudden‐expansion pipe without/with cross‐flow injection: experimental and numerical studies

The paper explores the possibilities that different turbulence closures offer, for in‐depth analysis of a complex flow. The case under investigation is steady, turbulent flow in a pipe with sudden expansion without/with normal‐to‐wall injection through jets. This is a typical geometry where generation of turbulence energy takes place, due to sudden change in boundary conditions. This study is aimed at investigating the capability of a developed computational program by the present authors with three different turbulence models to calculate the mean flow variables. Three two‐equation models are implemented, namely the standard linear k ? ε model, the low Reynolds number k ? ε model and the cubic nonlinear eddy viscosity (NLEV) k ? ε model. The performance of the chosen turbulence models is investigated with regard to the available data in the literature including velocity profiles, turbulent kinetic energy and reattachment position in a pipe expansion. In order to further assess the reliability of the turbulence models, an experimental program was conducted by the present authors also at the fluid mechanics laboratory of Menoufiya University. Preliminary measurements, including the surface pressure along the two walls of the expansion pipe and the pressure drop without and with the presence of different arrangements of wall jets produced by symmetrical or asymmetrical fluid cross‐flow injection, are introduced. The results of the present studies demonstrate the superiority of the cubic NLEV k ? ε model in predicting the flow characteristics over the entire domain. The simple low Reynolds number k ? ε model also gives good prediction, especially when the reattachment point is concerned. The evaluation of the reattachment point and the pressure‐loss coefficient is numerically addressed in the paper using the cubic NLEV k ? ε model. The results show that the injection location can control the performance of the pipe‐expansion system. It is concluded that the introduction of flow injection can increase the energy loss in the pipe expansion. The near‐field turbulence structure is also considered in the present study and it is noticed that the turbulence level is strongly affected by the cross‐flow injection and the jet location. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Finite element solution of three‐dimensional turbulent flows applied to mold‐filling problems

This paper presents a finite element solution algorithm for three‐dimensional isothermal turbulent flows for mold‐filling applications. The problems of interest present unusual challenges for both the physical modelling and the solution algorithm. High‐Reynolds number transient turbulent flows with free surfaces have to be computed on complex three‐dimensional geometries. In this work, a segregated algorithm is used to solve the Navier–Stokes, turbulence and front‐tracking equations. The streamline–upwind/Petrov–Galerkin method is used to obtain stable solutions to convection‐dominated problems. Turbulence is modelled using either a one‐equation turbulence model or the κ–ε two‐equation model with wall functions. Turbulence equations are solved for the natural logarithm of the turbulence variables. The change of dependent variables allows for a robust solution algorithm and good predictions even on coarse meshes. This is very important in the case of large three‐dimensional applications for which highly refined meshes result in untreatable large numbers of elements. The position of the flow front in the mold cavity is computed using a level set approach. Finally, equations are integrated in time using an implicit Euler scheme. The methodology presents the robustness and cost effectiveness needed to tackle complex industrial applications. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Transition and heat transfer predictions in a turbine cascade at various free‐stream turbulence intensities through a one‐equation turbulence model

The one‐equation Spalart–Allmaras turbulence model, coupled with criteria for the prediction of the transition onset, is employed for the numerical prediction of the heat transfer along the nozzle guide vanes of a high‐pressure turbine, at various operating conditions. Emphasis is put on how to overcome a known shortcoming of the Spalart–Allmaras model, i.e. its insensitivity to free‐stream turbulence. For this purpose, an extra viscosity coefficient is defined and used in the mean flow equations. This extra viscosity is proportional to the free‐stream turbulence with a damping in the boundary layer. Its use is adequate to circumvent the aforementioned weakness of the Spalart–Allmaras model, without any other intervention in the model itself. For the prediction of the onset of transition, the Abu‐Ghannam and Shaw and the Mayle criteria are used, depending on the level of free‐stream turbulence. Both yield very satisfactory predictions in a wide range of Reynolds numbers and/or turbulence intensities. From a numerical point of view, this paper proposes techniques for the implementation of the solution method on unstructured grids with triangular elements and reconfirms findings of previous works, like the suitability of the containment‐circle tessellation in highly stretched grids. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interfacial dynamics‐based modelling of turbulent cavitating flows,Part‐2: Time‐dependent computations

The interfacial dynamics‐based cavitation model, developed in Part‐1, is further employed for unsteady flow computations. The pressure‐based operator‐splitting algorithm (PISO) is extended to handle the time‐dependent cavitating flows with particular focus on the coupling of the cavitation and turbulence models, and the large density ratio associated with cavitation. Furthermore, the compressibility effect is important for unsteady cavitating flows because in a water–vapour mixture, depending on the composition, the speed of sound inside the cavity can vary by an order of magnitude. The implications of the issue of the speed of the sound are assessed with alternative modelling approaches. Depending on the geometric confinement of the nozzle, compressibility model and cavitation numbers, either auto‐oscillation or quasi‐steady behaviour is observed. The adverse pressure gradient in the closure region is stronger at the maximum cavity size. One can also observe that the mass transfer process contributes to the cavitation dynamics. Compared to the steady flow computations, the velocity and vapour volume fraction distributions within the cavity are noticeably improved with time‐dependent computations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Time‐dependent simulation of cavitating flow with k − ℓ turbulence models

A compressible, multiphase, one‐fluid Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes solver has been developed to study turbulent cavitating flows. The interplay between turbulence and cavitation regarding the unsteadiness and structure of the flow is complex and not well understood. This constitutes a critical point to accurately simulate the dynamic behavior of sheet cavities. In the present study, different formulations based on a k ? ? transport‐equation model are investigated and a scale‐adaptive formulation is proposed. Numerical results are given for a Venturi geometry and comparisons are made with experimental data. The scale‐adaptive model shows several improvements compared with standard turbulence models. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Large eddy simulation of turbulent shallow water flows using multi‐relaxation‐time lattice Boltzmann model

In this paper, the standard Smagorinsky's algorithm is embedded into the multiple relaxation time (MRT) lattice Boltzmann model (LBM) for large eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent shallow water flows (MRT‐LABSWE^TM). The model is based on the two‐dimensional nonlinear shallow water equations, giving the depth‐averaged features. It is verified by applying the model in three typical cases in engineering with turbulence: (i) the flow around a square cylinder, (ii) plane cavity flow, and (iii) flows in a junction of 90°. The results obtained by the MRT‐LABSWE^TM are compared with BGK‐LABSWE^TM results and experimental data. The objectives of this study are to validate the MRT‐LABSWE^TM in a turbulence simulation and perform a comparative analysis between the results of BGK‐LABSWE^TM and MRT‐LABSWE^TM. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Large eddy simulation of free surface shallow‐water flow

Shallow‐water flow with free surface frequently occurs in ambient water bodies, in which the horizontal scale of motion is generally two orders of magnitude greater than the water depth. To accurately predict this flow phenomenon in more detail, a three‐dimensional numerical model incorporating the method of large eddy simulation (LES) has been developed and assessed. The governing equations are split into three parts in the finite difference solution: advection, dispersion and propagation. The advection part is solved by the QUICKEST scheme. The dispersion part is solved by the central difference method and the propagation part is solved implicitly using the Gauss–Seidel iteration method. The model has been applied to free surface channel flow for which ample experimental data are available for verification. The inflow boundary condition for turbulence is generated by a spectral line processor. The computed results compare favourably with the experimental data and those results obtained by using a periodic boundary condition. The performance of the model is also assessed for the case in which anisotropic grids and filters with horizontal grid size of the order of the water depth are used for computational efficiency. The coarse horizontal grid was found to cause a significant reduction in the large‐scale turbulent motion generated by the bottom turbulence, and the turbulent motion is predominately described by the sub‐grid scale (SGS) terms. The use of the Smagorinsky model for SGS turbulence in this situation is found inappropriate. A parabolic mixing length model, which accounts for the filtered turbulence, is then proposed. The new model can reproduce more accurately the flow quantities. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identification of local extinction topology in axisymmetric bluff‐body diffusion flames with a reactedness‐mixture fraction presumed probability density function model

The effects of finite‐rate chemistry, such as partial extinctions and re‐ignitions, are investigated in turbulent non‐pre‐mixed reacting flows stabilized in the wake of an axisymmetric bluff‐body burner. A two‐dimensional large‐eddy simulation procedure is employed that uses a partial equilibrium/two‐scalar reactedness mixture fraction probability density function (PDF) combustion sub‐model, which is applied at the sub‐grid scale (SGS) level. An anisotropic sub‐grid eddy–viscosity and two equations for the SGS turbulence kinetic and scalar energies complete the SGS closure model. The scalar covariances required in the joint PDF formulation are obtained from an extended scale‐similarity assumption between the resolved and the sub‐grid fluctuations. Extinction due to strong turbulence/chemistry interactions is recognized with the help of a ‘critical’, locally variable, turbulent Damkohler number criterion, while transient localized extinctions and re‐ignitions are treated with a Lagrangian transport equation for a reactedness progress variable. Comparisons with available experimental data suggested that the formulated approach was capable of identifying the effects of large‐scale vortex structure activity, which were inherent in the reacting wake and dominant in the counterpart isothermal flows that otherwise would have been obscured if a standard time‐averaged procedure had been used. Additionally, the post‐extinction and re‐ignition behaviour and its time‐varying interaction with the large‐scale structure dynamics were more appropriately addressed within the context of the present time‐dependent method. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.