SYSTEMATIC COMPARISON OF MATHEMATICALLY SIMPLE TURBULENCE MODELS FOR 3-DIMENSIONAL BOUNDARY-LAYERS

The paper presents a systematic comparison of some widely used turbule nce models with one another and with experiments. The mathematically s implest models applicable to three-dimensional steady, incompressible boundary layers are of primary interest. Besides the more widely used algebraic formulations, models using simplified transport equations fo r turbulence quantities, such as the Johnson-King model, are considere d. These models are applied to a variety of well-established two-dimen sional and three-dimensional test cases, for which accurate and reliab le experimental data are available. To avoid differences associated wi th different numerical integration procedures, all models have been us ed with the same finite difference method especially developed for thi s purpose. This method solves the first-order boundary-layer equations written in terms of streamline coordinates. One broad conclusion of t his study is that all models considered give reasonable predictions fo r the gross boundary-layer parameters, but important differences becom e apparent for certain local values. Specific recommendations for the choice of turbulence model in practical applications are included.