Evaluation of RANS Approach in Predicting the Physics of Incompressible Turbulent Jets-Into-Crossflows

Abstract

This work is conducted with evaluation of different turbulence models capabilities in predicting three dimensional jet-into-crossflow (JICF) interactions. For this purpose, first of all, comprehensive discussions on the near wall flow complexities due to discharge of a jet into a crossflow are presented. In this regards, large scale coherent structures such as: counter rotating vortex pairs (CRVP’s), near wall secondary motions, horseshoe vortices, and wall jets like are discussed. Secondly, the abilities of different turbulence models in predicting such flows (JICF) are evaluated. Our evaluation is based on three points of view including: 1) JICF characteristics, 2) computed location, and 3) sensitivity to different flow variables. In this regard, the turbulence models such as k-ε, k-ω, shear stress transport model (SST), and Reynolds stress model (RSM) are employed. Their related results are compared to credential available experimental/numerical data as well themselves. Since the same basic code with the same grid density as well as numerical discretization scheme is used, it is save to conclude that, any differences in the results are due to the abilities of turbulence models. The flow field computation was governed by Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations performing finite volume method with SIMPLE algorithm over a non-uniform structured grid.