Turbulence Modeling Applied to Flow over a Sphere

Abstract

Numerical simulations of the subcritical flow over a sphere are presented. The primary aim is to compare prediction of some of the main physics and flow parameters from solutions of the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations, large-eddy simulation (LES), and detached-eddy simulation (DES). URANS predictions are obtained using two-layer κ-e, κ-ω, ν 2 -f, and the Spalart-Allmaras model. The dynamic eddy viscosity model is used in the LES. DES is a hybrid technique in which the closure is a modification to the Spalart-Allmaras model, reducing to RANS near solid boundaries and LES in the wake. The techniques are assessed by evaluating simulation results against experimental measurements, as well as through their ability to resolve time-dependent features of the flow related to vortex shedding. Simulation are performed at a Reynolds number of 10 4 , where laminar boundary-layer separation occurs at approximately 83 deg