Transient analysis of Rayleigh-Benard convection with a RANS model

Rayleigh-Benard (RB) convection at high Rayleigh numbers was studied by tra nsient Reynolds-averaged-Navier-Stokes (TRANS) approach. The aim of the stu dy was to assess the RANS method in reproducing the coherent structure and large-scale unsteadiness in buoyancy-driven turbulent flows. The method can be regarded as a very large eddy simulation (VLES) combining the rationale of the LES and of RANS modelling. Following the experimental and DNS evide nce that the RE convection is characterised by a coherent cellular motion w ith scales which are much larger than the scales of the rest of turbulent f luctuations, the instantaneous flow properties are decomposed into time-mea n, periodic and random (triple decomposition). A conventional single point closure (here an algebraic low-Re-number k - epsilon - <(theta(2))over bar> stress/flux model), used for the unresolved motion, was found to reproduce well the near-wall turbulent heat flux and wall heat transfer. The large s cale motion, believed to be the major mode of heat and momentum transfer in the bulk central region, is fully resolved by time solutions. In contrast to LES, the contribution of both modes to the turbulent fluctuations are of the same order of magnitude. In the horizontal wall boundary layers the mo del accounts almost fully for the turbulence statistics, with a marginal co ntribution of resolved scales. The approach was assessed by comparison with the available direct numerical simulations (DNS) and experimental data usi ng several criteria: visual observation of the large structure morphology, different structure identification techniques, and long-term averaged mean flow and turbulence properties. A visible similarity with large structures in DNS was observed. The mean flow variables, second-moments and wall heat transfer show good agreement with most DNS and experimental results for dif ferent flow cases considered. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights res erved.