Numerical Performance of Transition Models in Different Turbomachinery Flow Conditions: A Comparative Study

Abstract

A numerical study has been performed to compare the overall performance of three transition models when used with an industrial Navier-Stokes solver. The three models investigated include two experimental correlations and an integrated eN method. Twelve test cases in realistic turbomachinery flow conditions have been calculated. The study reveals that all the three models can work numerically well with an industrial Navier-Stokes code, but the prediction accuracy of the models depends on flow conditions. In general, all the three models perform comparably well to predict the transition in weak or moderate adverse pressure-gradient regions. The two correlations have the merit if the transition starts in strong favorable pressure-gradient region under high Reynolds number condition. But only the eN method works well to predict the transition controlled by strong adverse pressure gradients. The three models also demonstrate different capabilities to model the effects of turbulence intensity and Reynolds number.

Transition and heat transfer predictions in a turbine cascade at various free‐stream turbulence intensities through a one‐equation turbulence model

“…In the past, algebraic turbulence models (the Baldwin-Lomax [3][4][5][6] or the Mitchel one [7]), one-equation models (the Spalart-Allmaras one [5; 7]) and two-equation (k − or k − ! ones, see References [6][7][8]) have been used for the analysis of the same problem.…”

“…ones, see References [6][7][8]) have been used for the analysis of the same problem. In some of these works, criteria for the prediction of the onset of transition based on integral boundary layer quantities (the Abu-Ghannam and Shaw [9] or the Mayle model [1], which are both used in this work) or the integration of the growth rates of instability waves (the so-called e N model [4]) have been used. A few works in which the onset of transition was deÿned by the user can also be found (for instance Reference [5], using the SA model).…”