Article: Turbulence model verification and validation in an open source environment Journal: Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal (PCFD) 2018 Vol.18 No.2 pp.69 - 88 Abstract: In this paper, the verification of two low-Reynolds-number turbulence models in an open source environment is reported. The two models are the Spalart-Allmaras model without the ft2 term and the k - ω SST model using vorticity in production estimation. Grid convergence is achieved in all verification cases, while reasonable agreements with other codes are found. The two turbulence models are also validated through comparison with some well-known validation cases, the results of which show good agreement with experimental data. The differences between the results obtained from incompressible and compressible codes are also discussed. The impact of wall distance estimation on the performance of turbulence modelling is also evaluated through grid convergence studies. Within the realm of search algorithms for wall distance estimation, a three-level search approach is found to be necessary in order to achieve correct and converged results, especially for skewed meshes. It is shown, through a 2D bump flow grid convergence study, that the use of a one-level search approach can not only lead to a maximum friction coefficient deviation of 3.8%, but also cause an inconsistent convergence behaviour. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Turbulence model verification and validation in an open source environment

Authors: Daniel Wei; Seymour M.J. Spence; Ahsan Kareem

Addresses: Boeing Research and Technology – China, Boeing (China) Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100027, China; Formerly of: NatHaz Modeling Laboratory, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA ' Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA ' NatHaz Modeling Laboratory, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA

Abstract: In this paper, the verification of two low-Reynolds-number turbulence models in an open source environment is reported. The two models are the Spalart-Allmaras model without the f_t2 term and the k - ω SST model using vorticity in production estimation. Grid convergence is achieved in all verification cases, while reasonable agreements with other codes are found. The two turbulence models are also validated through comparison with some well-known validation cases, the results of which show good agreement with experimental data. The differences between the results obtained from incompressible and compressible codes are also discussed. The impact of wall distance estimation on the performance of turbulence modelling is also evaluated through grid convergence studies. Within the realm of search algorithms for wall distance estimation, a three-level search approach is found to be necessary in order to achieve correct and converged results, especially for skewed meshes. It is shown, through a 2D bump flow grid convergence study, that the use of a one-level search approach can not only lead to a maximum friction coefficient deviation of 3.8%, but also cause an inconsistent convergence behaviour.

Keywords: CFD; verification and validation; V&V; Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes; RANS; OpenFOAM.

DOI: 10.1504/PCFD.2018.090337

Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal, 2018 Vol.18 No.2, pp.69 - 88

Accepted: 14 Aug 2016
Published online: 13 Mar 2018 *

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Title: Turbulence model verification and validation in an open source environment

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