Effects of adaptivity on finite element schemes for turbulent heat transfer and flow predictions

This article presents the application of an adaptive finite element algorit hm to the solution of various discretizations of the Reynolds-averaged and k-epsilon equations for turbulent flows. The article has two objectives. Fi rst, it shows that the adaptive procedure produces grid independent solutio ns for several "upwind" discretizations, Second, Be article shows that the methodology produces the same grid independent solutions for all discretiza tions. Predictions for a sudden pipe expansion, a 30-degree diffuser, turbu lent heat transfer over a backward facing step, and a heated pipe expansion are compared with measurements. On fine adaptive meshes all discretization s yield the same predictions. However, large discrepancies ave observed on coarse and moderately fine grids.