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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Computation of oscillating airfoil flows with one- and two-equation turbulence models

The ability of one- and two-equation turbulence models to predict unsteady separated flows over airfoils is evaluated. An implicit, factorized, upwind-biased numerical scheme is used for the integration of the compressible, Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The turbulent eddy viscosity is obtained from the computed mean flowfield by integration of the turbulent field equations. One- and two-equation turbulence models are first tested for a separated airfoil flow at fixed angle of incidence. The same models are then applied to compute the unsteady flowfields about airfoils undergoing oscillatory motion at low subsonic Mach numbers. Experimental cases where the flow has been tripped at the leading-edge and where natural transition was allowed to occur naturally are considered. The more recently developed turbulence models capture the physics of unsteady separated flow significantly better than the standard kappa-epsilon and kappa-omega models. However, certain differences in the hysteresis effects are observed. For an untripped high-Reynolds-number flow, it was found necessary to take into account the leading-edge transitional flow region to capture the correct physical mechanism that leads to dynamic stall.

Ekaterinaris, J. A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Performance prediction applying different reduced turbulence models to the SMART tokamak

The SMall Aspect Ratio Tokamak (SMART) is currently being commissioned at the University of Seville and will be able to compare the performance of positive and negative triangularity plasmas at low aspect ratio. Predictive simulations have been performed for different machine scenarios and heating schemes using the TRANSP code. The objectives of these simulations are to predict the parameters expected in positive triangularity plasmas, to guide diagnostic development, and to validate transport models. Several reduced turbulence models have been used to predict electron and ion temperatures for the operational phase 2. All models provide similar results from approximately mid-radius to the separatrix but important discrepancies are found in the core region. These positive triangularity results are compared with experiments from a similar size machine like GLOBUS-M2. The multi-mode model (MMM) shows the best agreement. Simulations with different boundary conditions have been performed and no strong differences have been observed between them. The impact of neutral beam injection (NBI) on the predicted profiles has also been addressed. Rotation reduces turbulence levels so higher temperatures are achieved when included in the simulations. Studying the different contributions to the thermal diffusivities, it is observed that electron temperature gradient (ETG) turbulence dominates at the plasma core while micro-tearing modes (MTM) dominate at the edge in the electron channel. In the ion channel, the neoclassical contribution is dominant at the core and at the very edge while the Weiland component, which includes ion temperature gradient mode (ITG), trapped electron mode (TEM), kinetic ballooning mode (KBM), peeling mode (PM) and collisionless and collision dominated magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modes governs the mid-radius region. For phase 3, two plasmas with different electron densities have been studied. The case with lower density matches well a specific discharge of GLOBUS-M2. The higher density plasma shows high performance with β N ≈ 3.8.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2016

OVERFLOW Turbulence Modeling Resource Validation Results

Abstract:We exercise the computational fluid dynamics code OVERFLOW on sixteen turbulence model validation cases from the NASALangley Turbulence Model Resource web site. We give some information about the OVERFLOW options used to run these cases, and compare OVERFLOW results with results from other codes and with experiment. The goal is turbulence model validation for OVERFLOW.

computational fluid dynamics↗
NASA NTRS2001

Turbulence Modeling: A NASA Perspective

This paper presents turbulence modeling from NASA's perspective. The topics include: 1) Hierarchy of Solution Methods; 2) Turbulence Modeling Focus; 3) Linear Eddy Viscosity Models; and 4) Nonlinear Eddy Viscosity Algebraic Stress Models.

Gatski, T. B.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Status, Emerging Ideas and Future Directions of Turbulence Modeling Research in Aeronautics

In July 2017, a three-day Turbulence Modeling Symposium sponsored by the University of Michigan and NASA was held in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This meeting brought together nearly 90 experts from academia, government and industry, with good international participation, to discuss the state of the art in turbulence modeling, emerging ideas, and to wrestle with questions surrounding its future. Emphasis was placed on turbulence modeling in a predictive context in complex problems, rather than on turbulence theory or descriptive modeling. This report summarizes many of the questions, discussions, and conclusions from the symposium, and suggests immediate next steps.

Duraisamy, Karthik↗
NASA NTRS1990

An investigation into the numerical prediction of boundary layer transition using the K.Y. Chien turbulence model

Assessments were made of the simulation capabilities of transition models developed at the University of Minnesota, as applied to the Launder-Sharma and Lam-Bremhorst two-equation turbulence models, and at The University of Texas at Austin, as applied to the K. Y. Chien two-equation turbulence model. A major shortcoming in the use of the basic K. Y. Chien turbulence model for low-Reynolds number flows was identified. The problem with the Chien model involved premature start of natural transition and a damped response as the simulation moved to fully turbulent flow at the end of transition. This is in contrast to the other two-equation turbulence models at comparable freestream turbulence conditions. The damping of the transition response of the Chien turbulence model leads to an inaccurate estimate of the start and end of transition for freestream turbulence levels greater than 1.0 percent and to difficulty in calculating proper model constants for the transition model.

Stephens, Craig A.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Comparison of Turbulence Models for Nozzle-Afterbody Flows with Propulsive Jets

A numerical investigation was conducted to assess the accuracy of two turbulence models when computing non-axisymmetric nozzle-afterbody flows with propulsive jets. Navier-Stokes solutions were obtained for a Convergent-divergent non-axisymmetric nozzle-afterbody and its associated jet exhaust plume at free-stream Mach numbers of 0.600 and 0.938 at an angle of attack of 0 deg. The Reynolds number based on model length was approximately 20 x 10(exp 6). Turbulent dissipation was modeled by the algebraic Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model with the Degani-Schiff modification and by the standard Jones-Launder kappa-epsilon turbulence model. At flow conditions without strong shocks and with little or no separation, both turbulence models predicted the pressures on the surfaces of the nozzle very well. When strong shocks and massive separation existed, both turbulence models were unable to predict the flow accurately. Mixing of the jet exhaust plume and the external flow was underpredicted. The differences in drag coefficients for the two turbulence models illustrate that substantial development is still required for computing very complex flows before nozzle performance can be predicted accurately for all external flow conditions.

Compton, William B., III↗
NASA NTRS1990

Numerical prediction of turbulent flow over airfoil sections with a new nonequilibrium turbulence model

A new nonequilibrium turbulence closure model has been developed for computing wall bounded two-dimensional turbulent flows. This two-layer eddy viscosity model was motivated by the success of the Johnson-King model in separated flow regions. The influence of history effects are described by an ordinary differential equation developed from the turbulent kinetic energy equation. The performance of the present model has been evaluated by solving the flow around three airfoils using the Reynolds time-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. Excellent results were obtained for both attached and separated turbulent flows about the NACA 0012 airfoil, the RAE 2822 airfoil, and the Integrated Technology A 153W airfoil. Based on the comparison of the numerical solutions with the available experimental data, it is concluded that the new nonequilibrium turbulence model accurately captures the history effects of convection and diffusion on turbulence.

Ahmed, S.↗
NASA NTRS1993

An evaluation of nozzle relaminarization using Low Reynolds Number k-epsilon turbulence models

Two nozzle flowfields are evaluated numerically using a Low Reynolds k-epsilon turbulence model to examine possible boundary layer relaminarization. Flow enters the scramjet-like nozzles at a Mach Number of approximately 4.5 and is expanded around smooth shoulders to an exit Mach number of about 6.5. The strong streamwise acceleration and large favorable pressure gradients act with the convex curvature to form small regions of laminar-like boundary layer behavior along the expansion surface. Two relaminarization criteria are evaluated and they both predict relaminarization to be occurring, with the trends accurately modeled by the Low-Reynolds Number turbulence model that is used. The Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model cannot model the near-wall changes that take place in the rapidly accelerating boundary layer, but it proves to be useful in providing the acceleration parameters used in predicting the potential for relaminarization.

Jentink, Thomas N.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Turbulence modeling for computational aerodynamics

The status of turbulence modeling for external aerodynamic flows is reviewed, and closure concepts for the compressible form of the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations are briefly outlined to establish a framework for comparison. The importance of experimental requirements for developing and verifying turbulence models is emphasized. Attention is then given to three important flow categories: attached flows, separating and reattaching flows, and trailing-edge flows. Examples of comparisons between experiments and computations for twoand three-dimensional flows are presented to illustrate the status of modeling. It is shown that, for most two-dimensional attached flows, eddy viscosity concepts will probably be adequate. For attached three-dimensional flows, however, eddy-viscosity and Reynolds-stress models are both deficient, failing to predict the proper surface shear-stress in rapidly skewing boundary layers, regardless of whether they are pressure driven or strain driven.

Marvin, J. G.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Atmospheric Turbulence Modeling for Aero Vehicles: Fractional Order Fits

Atmospheric turbulence models are necessary for the design of both inlet/engine and flight controls, as well as for studying coupling between the propulsion and the vehicle structural dynamics for supersonic vehicles. Models based on the Kolmogorov spectrum have been previously utilized to model atmospheric turbulence. In this paper, a more accurate model is developed in its representative fractional order form, typical of atmospheric disturbances. This is accomplished by first scaling the Kolmogorov spectral to convert them into finite energy von Karman forms and then by deriving an explicit fractional circuit-filter type analog for this model. This circuit model is utilized to develop a generalized formulation in frequency domain to approximate the fractional order with the products of first order transfer functions, which enables accurate time domain simulations. The objective of this work is as follows. Given the parameters describing the conditions of atmospheric disturbances, and utilizing the derived formulations, directly compute the transfer function poles and zeros describing these disturbances for acoustic velocity, temperature, pressure, and density. Time domain simulations of representative atmospheric turbulence can then be developed by utilizing these computed transfer functions together with the disturbance frequencies of interest.

Kopasakis, George↗
NASA NTRS1989

Turbulence modeling in noninertial frames of reference

The effect of an arbitrary change of frame on the structure of turbulence models is examined from a fundamental theoretical standpoint. It is proven, as a rigorous consequence of the Navier-Stokes equations, that turbulence models must be form invariant under arbitrary translational accelerations of the reference frame and should only be affected by rotations through the intrinsic mean vorticity. A direct application of the invariance property along with the Taylor-Proudman Theorem, material frame-indifference in the limit of two-dimensional turbulence and Rapid Distortion Theory is shown to yield powerful constraints on the allowable form of turbulence models. Most of the commonly used turbulence models are demonstrated to be in serious violation of these constraints and consequently are inconsistent with the Navier-Stokes equations in non-inertial frames. Alternative models with improved non-inertial properties are developed and some simple applications to rotating turbulent flows are considered.

Speziale, Charles G.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Implementation/validation of a low Reynolds number two-equation turbulence model in the Proteus Navier-Stokes code: Two-dimensional/axisymmetric

The implementation and validation of the Chien low Reynolds number k-epsilon turbulence model in the two dimensional axisymmetric version Proteus, a compressible Navier-Stokes computer code, are presented. The set of k-epsilon equations are solved by marching in time using a coupled alternating direction implicit (ADI) solution procedure with generalized first or second order time differencing. To validate Proteus and the k-epsilon turbulence model, laminar and turbulent computations were done for several benchmark test cases: incompressible fully developed 2-D channel flow; fully developed axisymmetric pipe flow; boundary layer flow over a flat plate; and turbulent Sajben subsonic transonic diffuser flows. Proteus results from these test cases showed good agreement with analytical results and experimental data. Detailed comparisons of both mean flow and turbulent quantities showed that the Chien k-epsilon turbulence model given good results over a wider range of turbulent flow than the Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model in the Proteus code with no significant CPU time penalty for more complicated flow cases.

Bui, Trong T.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Development of Explainable Data-Driven Turbulence Models with Application to Liquid Fuel Nuclear Reactors

Liquid fuel nuclear reactors offer innovative possibilities in terms of nuclear reactor designs and passive safety systems. Molten Salts Reactors (MSRs) with a fast spectrum are a particular type of these reactors using liquid fuel. MSFRs often involve large open cavities in their core in which the liquid fuel circulates at a high speed to transport the heat generated by the nuclear reactions into the heat exchangers. This high-speed flow yields a turbulent field with large Reynolds numbers in the reactor core. Since the nuclear power, the neutron precursor’s transport and the thermal exchanges are strongly coupled in the MSFR’s core cavity, having accurate turbulent models for the liquid fuel flow is necessary to avoid introducing significant errors in the numerical simulations of these reactors. Nonetheless, high-accuracy simulations of the turbulent flow field in the reactor cavity of these reactors are usually prohibitively expensive in terms of computational resources, especially when performing multiphysics numerical calculations. Therefore, in this work, we propose a novel method using a modified genetic algorithm to optimize the calculation of the Reynolds Shear Stress Tensor (RST) used for turbulence modeling. The proposed optimization methodology is particularly suitable for advanced liquid fuel reactors such as the MSFRs since it allows the development of high-accuracy but still low-computational-cost turbulence models for the liquid fuel. We demonstrate the applicability of this approach by developing high accuracy Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) models (averaged flow error less than 5%) for a low and a large aspect ratio in a Backward-Facing Step (BFS) section particularly challenging for RANS models. The newly developed turbulence models better capture the flow field after the boundary layer tipping, over the extent of the recirculation bubble, and near the boundary layer reattachment region in both BFS configurations. The main reason for these improvements is that the developed models better capture the flow field turbulent anisotropy in the bulk region of the BFS. Then, we illustrate the interest in using this turbulence modeling approach for the case of an MSFR by quantifying the impact of the turbulence modeling on the reactor key parameters.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2018

Development and Documentation of kL-Based Linear, Nonlinear, and Full Reynolds Stress Turbulence Models

The development and implementation of kL-based Reynolds Average Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence models are reported herein. The kL is based on Abdol-Hamid's closure and Menter's modi cation to Rotta's two-equation model. Rotta shows that a reliable transport equation can be formed from the turbulent length scale L, and the turbulent kinetic energy k. Rotta's kL equation is well suited for term-by-term modeling and displays useful features compared to other scale formulation. One of the important di erences is the inclusion of higher order velocity derivatives in the source terms of the scale equation. This can enhance the ability of RANS solvers to simulate unsteady ows in URANS mode. The present report documents the formulation of three model levels of turbulence models as implemented in the CFD code FUN3D. Methodology and calibration examples are shown in detail. The levels are the linear k-kL and the two-equation algebraic Reynolds stress model (ARSM) as well as the full Reynolds Stress Model (RSM). Attached, separated and corner ow cases are documented and compared with experimental, theoretical and other turbulence model data. The results show generally very good comparisons with canonical and experimental data. The results from this formulation are similar or better than results using the SST two- equation turbulence model. ARSM shows great promise with similar level of computational resources as general two equation turbulence models.

Abdol-Hamid, Khaled S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Towards a structure-based turbulence model

The author is developing a new type of turbulence model in which a new one-point quantity, the eddy structure tensor, carries information about the two-point structure of the turbulence. The model was motivated by the observation that conventional one-point turbulence models based only on the turbulent stresses do not predict the rapid changes in state that are found when anisotropic homogeneous turbulence is subjected to mean rotation, and hence are fundamentally incorrect for rotation. The model appears to give topologically correct predictions for the changes in stress state and structure state under all types of rapid distortions of homogeneous turbulence.

Reynolds, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Effect of Turbulence Models on Two Massively-Separated Benchmark Flow Cases

Two massively-separated flow cases (the 2-D hill and the 3-D Ahmed body) were computed with several different turbulence models in the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes code CFL3D as part of participation in a turbulence modeling workshop held in Poitiers, France in October, 2002. Overall, results were disappointing, but were consistent with results from other RANS codes and other turbulence models at the workshop. For the 2-D hill case, those turbulence models that predicted separation location accurately ended up yielding a too-long separation extent downstream. The one model that predicted a shorter separation extent in better agreement with LES data did so only by coincidence: its prediction of earlier reattachment was due to a too-late prediction of the separation location. For the Ahmed body, two slant angles were computed, and CFD performed fairly well for one of the cases (the larger slant angle). Both turbulence models tested in this case were very similar to each other. For the smaller slant angle, CFD predicted massive separation, whereas the experiment showed reattachment about half-way down the center of the face. These test cases serve as reminders that state- of-the-art CFD is currently not a reliable predictor of massively-separated flow physics, and that further validation studies in this area would be beneficial.

Rumsey, Christopher L.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Near-wall k-epsilon turbulence modeling

The flow fields from a turbulent channel simulation are used to compute the budgets for the turbulent kinetic energy (k) and its dissipation rate (epsilon). Data from boundary layer simulations are used to analyze the dependence of the eddy-viscosity damping-function on the Reynolds number and the distance from the wall. The computed budgets are used to test existing near-wall turbulence models of the k-epsilon type. It was found that the turbulent transport models should be modified in the vicinity of the wall. It was also found that existing models for the different terms in the epsilon-budget are adequate in the region from the wall, but need modification near the wall. The channel flow is computed using a k-epsilon model with an eddy-viscosity damping function from the data and no damping functions in the epsilon-equation. These computations show that the k-profile can be adequately predicted, but to correctly predict the epsilon-profile, damping functions in the epsilon-equation are needed.

Mansour, N. N.↗