AN IMPROVED LOW-REYNOLDS-NUMBER KAPPA-EPSILON TURBULENCE MODEL FOR RECIRCULATING-FLOWS

A revised form of the low-Reynolds-number kappa-epsilon turbulence mod el is presented that aptly describes recirculating (separated and reat tached) flows. The revised model is well suited for low to moderate Re ynolds numbers. It is applied to two-dimensional channel flows, flow o ver a backward facing step, and flow over a forward facing step to cal culate flow fields and surface heat or mass transfer rates. Results fr om the present model are in better agreement with experimental data th an other low-Reynolds-number models. Asymmetric flow through an array of rectangular cylinders, as well as in a two-dimensional symmetric su dden expansion duct, is found numerically and supported by experimenta l results.