Expanding the limits of “equilibrium” second-moment turbulence closures

The paper discusses possibilities for refinements of conventional “equilibrium” second-moment turbulence closure models, aimed at improving model performances in predicting turbulent flows of greater complexity. In focus are the invariant modelling of the low-Re-number and wall proximity effects, as well as extra strain-rates and control of the turbulence length-scale. In addition to satisfying most of the basic physical constraints, the main criterion for model validation was the quality of reproduction of flow and turbulence details, particularly, in the vicinity of a solid wall, in a broad variety of non-equilibrium flows featured by different phenomena. It is demonstrated that the new model, which includes several new modifications, but also some proposed in the past, can satisfactorily reproduce a range of attached and separating flows with strong time- or space-variations or abrupt changes of boundary conditions. Cases considered cover a wide range of Re-numbers involving in some cases also the laminar-to-turbulent or reverse transition.