A computational study of annular cascade flows using aq-ω turbulence model with a wall function

Abstract

A computational code has been developed for steady viscous flows in three dimensional annular cascades. This code solves a special form of the thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations with a two-equationq-ω turbulence model in curvilinear coordinates using a time asymptotic method for steady state solutions. It employs a scalar implicit approximate factorization in time and a finite volume formulation with second-order upwind-differencing in space. A wall function treatment is implemented at solid boundaries for turbulence equations instead of integration to the wall to relieve gridding requirements. In order to validate the effectiveness of this code, computational studies have been made to access modeling capability for complex turbulent flow fields in three dimensional annular cascade geometries which typically include laminar-turbulent boundary layer transition. The results have been compared with both the computational studies with integration to the wall and the experimental studies. The wall function treatment was found to be reliable by predicting secondary flows and loss contours reasonably well.