Turbulence model unification and assessment for high-speed aeropropulsive flows

Abstract

Progress towards unifying varied ingredients of a k-e based turbulence model to permit its application to complex, high-speed aeropropulsive flows with a reasonable level of confidence is described. The 1972 Launder, et al. high-Re k-s model is chosen as the baseline model for free shear flows. Corrections are then applied in a systematic manner using a database of fundamental jet and shear layer data. To account for compressibility, an improved correction based on the work of Sarkar and Zeman is introduced. A Pope correction modified for compressibility effects is then applied to account for high-speed round jet growth rates. The resultant unified model accounts for a broad range of jet flowfields in an invariant manner. Data comparisons for hot, compressible jets indicate the need for variable Prt modeling. Preliminary work towards extending this model to analyze wall-bounded flows indicates the need to use zonal methodology and a formulation which unifies the above model with the low Re model of So, Zhang et al. is discussed.