RANS Modelling for Compressible Turbulent Flows Involving Shock Wave Boundary Layer Interactions

  • Ioannis Asproulias

Student thesis: Phd

Abstract

The main objective of the thesis is to provide a detailed assessment of the performance of four types of Low Reynolds Number (LRN) Eddy Viscosity Models (EVM), widely used for industrial purposes, on flows featuring SWBLI, using experimental and direct numerical simulation data. Within this framework the two-equation linear k-ε of Launder and Sharma (1974) (LS), the two-equation linear k-ω SST, the four-equation linear φ-f of Laurence et al. (2004) (PHIF) and the non-linear k-ε scheme of Craft et al. (1996b,1999) (CLSa,b) have been selected for testing. As initial test cases supersonic 2D compression ramps and impinging shocks of different angles and Reynolds numbers of the incoming boundary layer have been selected. Additional test cases are then considered, including normal shock/isotropic turbulence interaction and an axisymmetric transonic bump, in order to examine the predictions of the selected models on a range of Mach numbers and shock structures. For the purposes of this study the PHIF and CLSa,b models have been implemented in the open source CFD package OpenFOAM. Some results from validation studies of these models are presented, and some explorations are reported of certain modelled source terms in the ε-equation of the PHIF and CLSb models in compressible flows. Finally, before considering the main applications of the study, an examination is made of the performance of different solvers and numerical methods available in OpenFOAM for handling compressible flows with shocks.The performance of the above models, is analysed with comparisons of wall-quantities (skin-friction and wall-pressure), velocity profiles and profiles of turbulent quantities (turbulent kinetic energy and Reynolds stresses) in locations throughout the SWBLI zones. All the selected models demonstrate a broadly consistent performance over the considered flow configurations, with the CLSb scheme generally giving some improvements in predictions over the other models. The role of Reynolds stress anisotropy in giving a better representation of the evolution of the boundary layer in these flows is discussed through the performance of the CLSb model. It is concluded that some of the main deficiencies of the selected models is the overestimation of the dissipation rate levels in the non-equilibrium regions of the flow and the underestimation of the amplification of Reynolds stress anisotropy, especially within the recirculation bubble of the flows. Additionally, the analysis of the performance of the considered EVM's in a normal shock/isotropic turbulence interaction illustrates some drawbacks of the EVM formulation similar to the ones observed in normally-strained incompressible flows. Finally, a hybrid Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) approach is incorporated for the prediction of the transonic buffet around a wing.
Date of Award31 Dec 2014
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • The University of Manchester

Keywords

  • Turbulence Modelling, RANS, Shock Wave/Boundary Layer Interaction
  • supersonic

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