Scale adaptive simulation of vortex structures past a square cylinder

Abstract

The scale adaptive simulation (SAS) turbulence model is evaluated on a turbulent flow past a square cylinder using the open-source CFD package OpenFOAM 2.3.0. Two and three-dimensional simulations are performed to determine global quantities like drag and lift coefficients and Strouhal number in addition to mean and fluctuating velocity profiles in the recirculation and wake regions. SAS model is evaluated against the Shear Stress Transport k - ω (SST) model and also compared with previously reported results based on DES, LES and DNS turbulence approaches. Results show that global quantities along with mean velocity profiles are well-captured by 2-D SAS model. The 3-D SAS model also succeeded in providing comparable results with recently published DES study on Reynolds shear stress and velocity fluctuation components using about 12 times lower computational cost. It is shown that large values of the SAS model constant result in too dissipative behavior, so that proper calibration of the SAS model constant for different turbulent flows is vital.