SIMULATING 2-DIMENSIONAL TURBULENT-FLOW BY USING THE K-EPSILON MODEL AND THE VORTICITY STREAMFUNCTION FORMULATION

A numerical procedure to solve turbulent flow which makes use of the k-epsilon model has been developed. The method is based on a control volume finite element method and an unstructured triangular domain discretization. The velocity-pressure coupling is addressed via the vorticity-streamfunction and special attention is given to the boundary conditions for the vorticity. Wall effects are taken into account via wall functions or a low-Reynolds-number model. The latter was found to perform better in recirculation regions. Source terms of the k and epsilon transport equations have been linearized in a particular way to avoid nonrealistic solutions. The vorticity and streamfunction discretized equations are solved in a coupled way to produce a faster and more stable computational procedure. Comparison between the numerical predictions and experimental data shows that the physics of the flow is correctly simulated.