On the modelling of the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy

Abstract

We consider a relaxation equation for turbulence wavenumber for use in semi-empirical turbulence closures. It is shown that the well-known phenomenological equation for the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy can be related to this relaxation equation as a close approximation of the latter for stably stratified quasi-stationary flows. The proposed approach allows for more physically found definition of the empirical constants and improvement of atmospheric and oceanic boundary layer turbulence closures by using direct numerical and large eddy simulation data to define equilibrium states and relaxation mechanisms.