Comparative study of high and low Reynolds number versions of k-epsilon models
Abstract
Two commonly used turbulence models for predicting wall-bounded flows are: (1) the high Reynolds number k-epsilon model with wall functions and (2) the low Reynolds number k-epsilon model with near-wall resolution, often claimed to be more accurate than wall functions. The present study is aimed at the systematic assessment of the two approaches by considering a number of two-dimensional flows. Selected flows include those in a plane channel, a backward-facing step with and without heat transfer, a turnaround duct, and that over a flat plate undergoing transition. Grid-independent solutions are obtained by employing a second-order accurate differencing scheme on sufficiently fine grids. Contrary to the common view, the High-Re model yields results that are better than or comparable to that of the low-Re model, for all problems considered.
- Publication:
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AIAA, Aerospace Sciences Meeting
- Pub Date:
- January 1990
- Bibcode:
- 1990aiaa.meetV....A
- Keywords:
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- High Reynolds Number;
- K-Epsilon Turbulence Model;
- Low Reynolds Number;
- Wall Flow;
- Backward Facing Steps;
- Boundary Layer Flow;
- Boundary Layer Separation;
- Eddy Viscosity;
- Two Dimensional Flow;
- Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer