Numerical simulation of flow around different wall-mounted structures

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe flow around two-dimensional (2D) square, triangular and semi-circular subsea protection structures mounted on a horizontal plane wall with different thicknesses of incident boundary layer flow has been investigated numerically using 2D Reynolds–averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations, with the standard high Reynolds number k–ɛ turbulence model. The normalised thickness of incident boundary layer, δ/D (where δ is the boundary layer thickness and D is the height of the structure), varies from 0.73 to 2.55. Reynolds number (Re) based on the free stream velocity and the height of the structure is 1×106. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the applicability of RANS simulations for the wall mounted structures subject to high Re incoming boundary layer flow. The predicted hydrodynamic quantities are in good agreement with the published experimental data, which shows that the present model can predict the high Re boundary layer flow around the wall–mounted structures reasonably well.