COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TURBULENCE MODELS FOR SIMULATING FLOW OVER A FLAT PLATE

Abstract

This research paper presents a comparative analysis of turbulence models for simulating the flow over a flat plate. The accurate prediction of turbulence characteristics is crucial for various engineering applications, including aerodynamics and heat transfer. In this study, three commonly used turbulence models, namely the k-ε, k-ω, and Laminar, are evaluated and compared for their ability to capture the flow behaviour over a flat plate. The simulations are conducted using Ansys, a widely-used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software package. The flow conditions and geometry are carefully defined to ensure a consistent and controlled setup across the turbulence models. The key parameters of interest include boundary layer thickness, velocity profiles, and flow separation characteristics. The results obtained from each turbulence model are compared to provide insights into their performance and limitations. The comparative analysis focuses on the accuracy, computational efficiency, and ability to capture complex flow phenomena exhibited by the turbulence models. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of the turbulence modelling techniques for simulating flow over a flat plate. The outcomes can aid researchers and engineers in selecting the most appropriate turbulence model for similar flow scenarios in various engineering applications.