Modelling turbulent swirling flows based on the algebraic two-equation (K-epsilon) approach

We investigate the principal aspects of modelling the fully-developed turbulent swirling flows based on the algebraic two-equation (K-E) modelling approach. As a typical example, the characteristics of modelling the turbulent swirling flow in an axially rotating pipe based on the non-linear cubic K-e models of Craft et al. (Int. J. Heat Fluid Flow 1996; 17:108-115), Shih et al. (Proceedings of 11th Symposium on Turbulent Shear Flows, Grenoble, France, 1997; 31.1-31.6), and Huang and Ma (Phys. Rev. E 2004; 70:036302) are analysed and discussed in detail. Moreover, we carry out the numerical simulations by using the above three cubic models for the turbulent swirling flows in an axially rotating pipe and in an axisymmetric chamber, respectively, in comparison with the experimental data concerned. The numerical results indicate that, in addition to the frame-indifferent mean stretching tensor (the mean strain-rate tensor), the frame-dependent mean spin tensor actually plays an effective and important role as well in predicting the turbulent swirling flows. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Computer Science, Interdisciplinary ApplicationsMathematics, Interdisciplinary ApplicationsMechanicsPhysics, Fluids & PlasmasSCI(E)EI3ARTICLE3285-3045