On the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes capability of simulating turbulent boundary layers under unsteady adverse pressure gradients

Abstract

Predictive capabilities of unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) techniques using the k−ω shear stress transport and Spalart–Allmaras models are assessed for the simulation of turbulent boundary layers under unsteady adverse pressure gradients by comparing their results with direct numerical simulation (DNS) results. Simulations are conducted for separating and reattaching turbulent boundary layers under periodic adverse pressure gradients. Phase-wise comparisons of the velocity, the Reynolds stress, and the skin friction coefficient obtained by URANS simulations and DNS are carried out. URANS techniques are found to qualitatively well predict the formation of the separation bubble and the phase response of the shear layer height, while they predict earlier separation and a larger recirculation bubble compared with those in DNS. Phase responses of the skin friction predicted by URANS simulations are found not to be an accurate indication of flow separation and reattachment of the turbulent boundary layer. The main causes of discrepancies among DNS and URANS results in the near-wall region are attributed to the different anisotropy of the Reynolds stress, which can be characterized by a barycentric map.