Preliminary Fluid Dynamic Analysis of Turbulent Flat and Ribbed Square Duct via CFD Approach

Abstract

A preliminary numerical study of the fluid dynamic behavior of flat and ribbed square duct is presented. Fluid dynamics of two configurations is analyzed via Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) modeling in order to underline the main characteristics of each configuration and to give some information at global and local level. This kind of modeling is used as base for setting up a more detailed analysis such as Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS). Flat and ribbed square duct with a Reynolds number based on bulk velocity and hydraulic diameter of 10320 (Reτ=600 for the flat configuration) are analyzed and the results of the flat configuration are compared with available results obtained via DNS approach. The ribbed square duct is characterized by a two-pass configuration (aligned ribs in the top and bottom walls), with the duct height about six times the height of the obstacles for a blockage ratio of about 30%. Finally a pitch ratio (rib spacing to rib height) of 10 is used in order to obtain a k-type roughness permitting the flow to reattach before the next obstacle. Advanced U-RANS and RANS models such as Reynolds Stress Models (RSM), Explicit Algebraic Stress Models (EASM), v2f, and two-equation low Reynolds models have been used and compared. In this direction the validated results obtained for the smooth square duct are used to select the most appropriate RANS models and to evaluate their performance for a ribbed square duct at the same Reynolds number. A periodic configuration including one rib and considering the flow fully developed is used to reduce computational costs. The results of the ribbed square duct are hence analyzed in order to evaluate characteristics such as domain and mesh size.