Ping Zhou, Feng Mei and Hui Cai
The objective of modeling turbulence is to correlate these terms with any known
variables so that the equations set can be closed. Starting from Boussinesq who
proposed the first turbulence model, the investigation of turbulence modeling
has gone through a history over 100 years. There have been a large number of
turbulence models and turbulence theories. Mathematically there are algebraic
models and differential models. Physically there are turbulent viscosity models
and Reynolds stresses models. Influenced by the availability of computation
capacity and inclinations towards certain theories, each age has its “favorable”
models.
The revolutionary development of computer technology has dramatically
reshaped the landscape of CFD (computational fluid dynamics) from the 1990s.
Many models that were developed mainly to simplify computation have gradually
faded out. The winners are those either robust enough for wide range of
applications or accurate in predicting some specific problems. The interest of this
book focuses on a few
k-
models that have been widely used in engineering
practice, followed by a brief introduction of the Reynolds Stresses models. The
readers are referred to other textbooks and monographs for other classic turbulent
models such as the Prandtl Mixing Length model from the Algebraic Turbulent
Stresses model group, the single equation turbulence model from the Differential
Turbulent Stresses model group or the algebraic stresses model from the Reynolds
Stresses model group.
Boussinesq assumed that the turbulent stresses be proportional to the mean
velocity gradient. He defined the turbulent stresses in analogy to molecular
viscous stresses:
ijij
k
n
i
i
i
i
Tjiij
k
x
u
x
u
x
u
uu
δρδμρτ
3
2
3
2
−
⎟
⎟
⎠
⎞
⎜
⎜
⎝
⎛
∂
∂
−
∂
∂
+
∂
∂
=
′′
−=
(2.17)
where
T
μ is a hypothetic “turbulent viscosity”, which is not a physical property of
the fluid but a local variable depending on the turbulent flow. Introducing this
turbulent viscosity re-directs the investigation interest from how to determine
turbulent stresses to how to determine turbulent viscosity, from which various
k-
models have been raised.
A very nature idea when we are studying turbulence is to measure the
turbulence by its kinetic energy. The definition of turbulent kinetic energy is:
k =
jj
uu
′′′′
2
1
Or written in the Cartesian coordinate system as
⎟
⎠
⎞
⎜
⎝
⎛
′
+
′
+
′
=
222
2
1
zyx
uuuk (2.18)
Turbulent kinetic energy measures the intensity of turbulence in the three
directions. From the viewpoint of turbulence microstructure, the turbulent energy