Streamline curvature effects in confined isothermal recirculating flowfields behind an axisymmetric bluff body - Numerical calculations with the k-epsilon turbulence model

The confined turbulent recirculating flowfield due to the isothermal mixing of dual coaxial streams in the near-wake region of an axisymmetric bluff body is numerically investigated. The finite-difference computations based upon the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations and the k-epsilon turbulence model examine modifications to the turbulence model to account for the effects of streamline curvature and for the preferential influence of normal stresses on turbulence dissipation. This examination is facilitated by a comparison of the predicted and measured results of the axial and radial distributions of the mean and rms axial velocity, the centerline stagnation points, and the axial decay of the centerline CO2 concentration.