K-ε and Reynolds stress turbulence model comparisons for two-dimensional injection flows

Two-dimensional steady flow fields generated by transverse injection into a supersonic flow are numerically simulated by integrating the Favre-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. Fine-scale turbulence effects are modeled with compressible K-epsilon and second-order Reynolds-stress turbulence models. These numerical results are compared to numerical results of the Jones-Launder K-epsilon model and experimental data. The credibility of the Reynolds-stress turbulence model relative to experimental data and other turbulence models is demonstrated by comparison of surface pressure profiles, boundary-layer separation location, jet plume height, and descriptions of recirculation zones and flow structure upstream and downstream of the jet. Results indicate that the Reynolds-stress turbulence model correctly predicts mean flow conditions for low static pressure ratios. However, it is also observed that, as the static pressure ratio increases, the boundary-layer separation point moves farther upstream of the jet and predictions become less consistent with experimental results. The K-epsilon results are less consistent with the experimental results than those associated with the Reynolds-stress turbulence model. Finally, unlike the K-epsilon results, nonphysical vorticity phenomena upstream of the jet plume are not observed in the Reynolds-stress turbulence model results. This phenomenon is shown to coincide with strong gradients in the mall functions used to compute mu(t).