Turbulence modeling

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Turbulence modeling is the construction and use of a model to predict the effects of turbulence. Averaging
is often used to simplify the solution of the governing equations of turbulence, but models are needed to
represent scales of the flow that are not resolved.[1]

Contents
1 Closure problem
2 Eddy viscosity
3 Prandtl's mixing-length concept
4 Smagorinsky model for the sub-grid scale eddy viscosity
5 SpalartAllmaras, k and k models
6 Common models
7 References
7.1 Notes
7.2 Other

Closure problem
A closure problem arises in the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equation because of the nonlinear term
from the convective acceleration, known as the Reynolds stress,
[2]

Closing the RANS equation requires modeling the Reynold's stress

Eddy viscosity
Joseph Boussinesq was the first practitioner of this (i.e. modeling the Reynold's stress), introducing the
concept of eddy viscosity. In 1887 Boussinesq proposed relating the turbulence stresses to the mean flow to
close the system of equations. Here the Boussinesq hypothesis is applied to model the Reynolds stress term.
Note that a new proportionality constant
, the turbulence eddy viscosity, has been introduced.
Models of this type are known as eddy viscosity models or EVM's.

Which can be written in shorthand as

where

is the mean rate of strain tensor

is the turbulence eddy viscosity

is the turbulence kinetic energy
and

is the Kronecker delta.

In this model, the additional turbulence stresses are given by augmenting the molecular viscosity with an
eddy viscosity.[3] This can be a simple constant eddy viscosity (which works well for some free shear flows
such as axisymmetric jets, 2-D jets, and mixing layers).

Prandtl's mixing-length concept

Later, Ludwig Prandtl introduced the additional concept of the mixing length, along with the idea of a
boundary layer. For wall-bounded turbulent flows, the eddy viscosity must vary with distance from the
wall, hence the addition of the concept of a 'mixing length'. In the simplest wall-bounded flow model, the
eddy viscosity is given by the equation:

where:
is the partial derivative of the streamwise velocity (u) with respect to the wall normal direction
(y);
is the mixing length.
This simple model is the basis for the "law of the wall", which is a surprisingly accurate model for wallbounded, attached (not separated) flow fields with small pressure gradients.
More general turbulence models have evolved over time, with most modern turbulence models given by
field equations similar to the Navier-Stokes equations.

Smagorinsky model for the sub-grid scale eddy viscosity

Among many others, Joseph Smagorinsky (1964) proposed a useful formula for the eddy viscosity in
numerical models, based on the local derivatives of the velocity field and the local grid size:

SpalartAllmaras, k and k models

The Boussinesq hypothesis is employed in the SpalartAllmaras (SA), k (kepsilon), and k (k
omega) models and offers a relatively low cost computation for the turbulence viscosity . The SA model
uses only one additional equation to model turbulence viscosity transport, while the k models use two.

Common models
The following is a list of commonly employed models in modern engineering applications.
SpalartAllmaras (SA)
k (kepsilon)
k (komega)
SST (Menters Shear Stress Transport)
Reynolds stress equation model

References
Notes
1. ^ Ching Jen Chen, Shenq-Yuh Jaw (1998), Fundamentals of turbulence modeling
(http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HSCUGJ1n8tgC), Taylor & Francis
2. ^ Andersson, Bengt et al (2012). Computational fluid dynamics for engineers. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-107-01895-2.
3. ^ John J. Bertin, Jacques Periaux, Josef Ballmann, Advances in Hypersonics: Modeling hypersonic flows
(http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=edy-vDzifvAC&pg=PA6)

Other
Townsend, A.A. (1980) "The Structure of Turbulent Shear Flow" 2nd Edition (Cambridge
Monographs on Mechanics) (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Special:Booksources&isbn=0521298199)
Bradshaw, P. (1971) "An introduction to turbulence and its measurement" (Pergamon Press)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Booksources&isbn=0080166210)
Wilcox C. D., (1998), "Turbulence Modeling for CFD" 2nd Ed., (DCW Industries, La Caada)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Booksources&isbn=0963605100)
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Categories: Turbulence Turbulence models

This page was last modified on 24 May 2014 at 08:07.

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