Evaluation of the Shear-Stress Transport Turbulence Model for Heat Transfer Applications

Abstract

In this paper, two two-equation eddy-viscosity turbulence models, namely baseline model (BSL) and shear stress transport model (SST), are investigated in the simulations of wall-bounded flows. Both models combine elements of the and models in different flow regions and demonstrates superior numerical stability properties, making them attractive for the engineering applications. However, it appears that the SST model underpredicts convective heat transfer in flows under strongly favorable pressure gradients, even though it can locate separation position accurately in some candidate flows with adverse pressure gradients. Proposed modification on SST model improves the heat transfer significantly for favorable pressure gradient conditions, but fails to capture the separation point accurately in flows under severe adverse pressure gradients. It is suggested that although SST model performs well at locating separation point for adverse pressure gradient conditions, caution must be taken when applying SST model to solve heat transfer problem in favorable pressure gradient boundary layer flows.