A Correlation-Based Transition Model Using Local Variables: Part I — Model Formulation

Author(s):  
F. R. Menter ◽  
R. B. Langtry ◽  
S. R. Likki ◽  
Y. B. Suzen ◽  
P. G. Huang ◽  
...  

A new correlation-based transition model has been developed, which is based strictly on local variables. As a result, the transition model is compatible with modern CFD approaches such as unstructured grids and massive parallel execution. The model is based on two transport equations, one for intermittency and one for the transition onset criteria in terms of momentum thickness Reynolds number. The proposed transport equations do not attempt to model the physics of the transition process (unlike e.g. turbulence models), but form a framework for the implementation of correlation-based models into general-purpose CFD methods. Part I (this part) of this paper gives a detailed description of the mathematical formulation of the model and some of the basic test cases used for model validation, including a 2-D turbine blade. Part II of the paper details a significant number of test cases that have been used to validate the transition model for turbomachinery and aerodynamic applications. The authors believe that the current formulation is a significant step forward in engineering transition modeling, as it allows the combination of correlation-based transition models with general purpose CFD codes.

2004 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 423-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. B. Langtry ◽  
F. R. Menter ◽  
S. R. Likki ◽  
Y. B. Suzen ◽  
P. G. Huang ◽  
...  

A new correlation-based transition model has been developed, which is built strictly on local variables. As a result, the transition model is compatible with modern computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods using unstructured grids and massive parallel execution. The model is based on two transport equations, one for the intermittency and one for the transition onset criteria in terms of momentum thickness Reynolds number. The proposed transport equations do not attempt to model the physics of the transition process (unlike, e.g., turbulence models), but form a framework for the implementation of correlation-based models into general-purpose CFD methods. Part I of this paper (Menter, F. R., Langtry, R. B., Likki, S. R., Suzen, Y. B., Huang, P. G., and Völker, S., 2006, ASME J. Turbomach., 128(3), pp. 413–422) gives a detailed description of the mathematical formulation of the model and some of the basic test cases used for model validation. Part II (this part) details a significant number of test cases that have been used to validate the transition model for turbomachinery and aerodynamic applications, including the drag crisis of a cylinder, separation-induced transition on a circular leading edge, and natural transition on a wind turbine airfoil. Turbomachinery test cases include a highly loaded compressor cascade, a low-pressure turbine blade, a transonic turbine guide vane, a 3D annular compressor cascade, and unsteady transition due to wake impingement. In addition, predictions are shown for an actual industrial application, namely, a GE low-pressure turbine vane. In all cases, good agreement with the experiments could be achieved and the authors believe that the current model is a significant step forward in engineering transition modeling.


Author(s):  
R. B. Langtry ◽  
F. R. Menter ◽  
S. R. Likki ◽  
Y. B. Suzen ◽  
P. G. Huang ◽  
...  

A new correlation-based transition model has been developed, which is built strictly on local variables. As a result, the transition model is compatible with modern CFD methods using unstructured grids and massive parallel execution. The model is based on two transport equations, one for the intermittency and one for the transition onset criteria in terms of momentum thickness Reynolds number. The proposed transport equations do not attempt to model the physics of the transition process (unlike e.g. turbulence models), but form a framework for the implementation of correlation-based models into general-purpose CFD methods. Part I of this paper gives a detailed description of the mathematical formulation of the model and some of the basic test cases used for model validation. Part II (this part) of the paper details a significant number of test cases that have been used to validate the transition model for turbomachinery and aerodynamic applications, including the drag crisis of a cylinder, separation induced transition on a circular leading edge and natural transition on a wind turbine airfoil. Turbomachinery test cases include a highly loaded compressor cascade, a low-pressure turbine blade, a transonic turbine guide vane, a 3-D annular compressor cascade and unsteady transition due to wake impingement. In addition, predictions are shown for an actual industrial application, namely a GE Low-Pressure turbine vane. In all cases good agreement with the experiments could be achieved and the authors believe that the current model is a significant step forward in engineering transition modeling.


2004 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-501
Author(s):  
John A. Redford ◽  
Mark W. Johnson

This paper describes the modifications made to a successful attached flow transition model to produce a model capable of predicting both attached and separated flow transition. This transition model is used in combination with the Fluent CFD software, which is used to compute the flow around the blade assuming that it remains entirely laminar. The transition model then determines the start of transition location and the development of the intermittency. These intermittency values weight the laminar and turbulent boundary layer profiles to obtain the resulting transitional boundary layer parameters. The ERCOFTAC T3L test cases are used to validate the predictions. The T3L blade is a flat plate with a semi-circular leading edge, which results in the formation of a separation bubble the length of which is strongly dependent on the transition process. Predictions were performed for five T3L test cases for differing free-stream turbulence levels and Reynolds numbers. For the majority of these test cases the measurements were accurately predicted.


Author(s):  
John A. Redford ◽  
Mark W. Johnson

This paper describes the modifications made to a successful attached flow transition model to produce a model capable of predicting both attached and separated flow transition. This transition model is used in combination with the Fluent CFD software, which is used to compute the flow around the blade assuming that it remains entirely laminar. The transition model then determines the start of transition location and the development of the intermittency. These intermittency values weight the laminar and turbulent boundary layer profiles to obtain the resulting transitional boundary layer parameters. The ERCOFTAC T3L test cases are used to validate the predictions. The T3L blade is a flat plate with a semi-circular leading edge, which results in the formation of a separation bubble the length of which is strongly dependent on the transition process. Predictions were performed for five T3L test cases for differing freestream turbulence levels and Reynolds numbers. For the majority of these test cases the measurements were accurately predicted.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Tolksdorf ◽  
Anubhav Gokhale ◽  
Daniel Kessler ◽  
Leroy Benjamin ◽  
Christoph Bode ◽  
...  

Abstract Engine operating cost contributes a major share to an aircraft’s direct operating cost. Thus, the knowledge of the current and future state of their engines is a major concern to any airline operator. To be able to schedule shop visits, state-of-the-art diagnostic and prognostic tools including CFD methods are employed. These RANS-based turbulence and transition models are used to predict the overall efficiency and operational behavior of the engine components. Aerofoil surfaces undergo dynamic change during operation and surface roughness increases in complex non-homogeneous ways due to corrosion, erosion, and fouling processes; depending on the engine component and the environmental condition encountered. The influence of real fouling based roughness on the boundary layer transition is investigated experimentally and numerically within this study. For this purpose, the rotor midspan from the second HPC rotor of the CFM56 is used as the basis for experimental and numerical investigations. Realistic fouling based roughness is applied and investigated both in a cascade tunnel and a low speed compressor rig. The results shown here indicate that laminar boundary layers and their transition to turbulence must be included in the RANS model combination used. Furthermore, it is necessary to consider roughness effects in the respective turbulence and transition model. While the consideration of roughness for the turbulence models has already found wide acceptance, the results in this work motivate the additional extension of the transition model to include roughness effects.


Author(s):  
M. E. Kelterer ◽  
R. Pecnik ◽  
W. Sanz

The accurate numerical simulation of the flow through turbomachinery depends on the correct prediction of boundary-layer transition phenomena. Especially heat transfer and skin friction investigations demand a reliable simulation of the transition process. Many models have been developed to simulate the transition process, ranging from simple algebraic models to very sophisticated transport models. But nearly all models suffer from the need to determine boundary layer parameters and from their difficult application in three-dimensional flows. Therefore, in this work the correlation based γ-Reθ transition model developed by Menter and Langtry is implemented into the in-house Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes solver. This model avoids the calculation of non-local parameters and is thus very suitable for three-dimensional general flow situations. Two additional transport equations, one for the intermittency and one for the momentum thickness Reynolds number, which is a criterion for the transition onset, are added to the well known SST turbulence model by Menter. Instead of the proprietary model correlations by Menter et al. the authors used correlations by other research groups within the in-house code and tested these correlations for simple flat-plate test cases. The non-satisfying results indicate a strong code dependency of the model. Therefore also in-house correlations are presented and validated. A comprehensive study of the model performance on the well known ERCOFTAC flat plate test cases is performed. After this validation the model is applied to the steady flow in a T106A and a T106 turbine cascade.


Author(s):  
Narges Tabatabaei ◽  
Ricardo Vinuesa ◽  
Ramis Örlü ◽  
Philipp Schlatter

AbstractThe exact placement of the laminar–turbulent transition has a significant effect on relevant characteristics of the boundary layer and aerodynamics, such as drag, heat transfer and flow separation on e.g. wings and turbine blades. Tripping, which fixes the transition position, has been a valuable aid to wind-tunnel testing during the past 70 years, because it makes the transition independent of the local condition of the free-stream. Tripping helps to obey flow similarity for scaled models and serves as a passive control mechanism. Fundamental fluid-mechanics studies and many engineering developments are based on tripped cases. Therefore, it is essential for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to replicate the same forced transition, in spite of the advanced improvements in transition modelling. In the last decade, both direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large-eddy simulations (LES) include tripping methods in an effort to avoid the need for modeling the complex mechanisms associated with the natural transition process, which we would like to bring over to Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) turbulence models. This paper investigates the implementation and performance of such a technique in RANS and specifically in the $$k-\omega$$ k - ω SST model. This study assesses RANS tripping with three alternatives: First, a recent approach of turbulence generation, denoted as turbulence-injection method (kI), is evaluated and investigated through different test cases; second, a predefined transition point is used in a traditional transition model (denoted as IM method); and third a novel formulation combining the two previous methods is proposed, denoted $$\gamma -k$$ γ - k I. The model is compared with DNS, LES and experimental data in a variety of test cases ranging from a turbulent boundary layer on a flat plate to the three-dimensional (3D) flow over a wing section. The desired tripping is achieved at the target location and the simulation results compare very well with the reference results. With the application of the novel model, the challenging transition region can be excluded from a simulation, and consequently more reliable results can be provided.


Author(s):  
Florian Herbst ◽  
Andreas Fiala ◽  
Joerg R. Seume

The current design of low-pressure turbines (LPTs) with steady-blowing vortex generating jets (VGJ) uses steady computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The present work aims to support this design approach by proposing a new semi-empirical transition model for injection-induced laminar-turbulent boundary layer transition. It is based on the detection of cross-flow vortices in the boundary layer which cause inflectional cross-flow velocity profiles. The model is implemented in the CFD code TRACE within the framework of the γ-Reθ transition model and is a reformulated, re-calibrated, and extended version of a previously presented model. It is extensively validated by means of VGJ as well as non-VGJ test cases capturing the local transition process in a physically reasonable way. Quantitative aerodynamic design parameters of several VGJ configurations including steady and periodic-unsteady inflow conditions are predicted in good accordance with experimental values. Furthermore, the quantitative prediction of end-wall flows of LPTs is improved by detecting typical secondary flow structures. For the first time, the newly derived model allows the quantitative design and optimization of LPTs with VGJs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-164
Author(s):  
Mohamed R. Shouman ◽  
Mohamed M. Helal

Abstract One of the big challenges yet to be addressed in the numerical simulation of wetted flow over marine propellers is the influence of propellers' geometry on the selection of turbulence models. Since the Reynolds number is a function of the geometrical parameters of the blades, the flow type is controlled by these parameters. The majority of previous studies employed turbulence models that are only appropriate for fully turbulent flows, and consequently, they mostly caused high discrepancy between numerical predictions and corresponding experimental measurements specifically at geometrical parameters generating laminar and transient flows. The present article proposes a complete procedure of computational fluid dynamics simulation for wetted flows over marine propellers using ANSYS FLUENT 16 and employing both transition-sensitive and fully turbulent models for comparison. The K-Kl-ω transition model and the fully turbulent standard K-ε model are suggested for this purpose. The investigation is carried out for two different propellers in geometrical features: the INSEAN E779a model and the Potsdam Propeller Test Case (PPTC) model. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the K-Kl-ω transition model for the INSEAN E779a propeller rather than the PPTC propeller. This can be interpreted as the narrow-bladed and small-diameter propellers have more likely laminar and transient flows over its blades.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Ernesto Casartelli ◽  
Luca Mangani ◽  
David Roos Launchbury ◽  
Armando Del Rio

Abstract The current trend in turbomachinery towards broader operating characteristics requires that operating points in the off-design region can be captured accordingly from the simulation models. Complex processes like separation and vortex formation/dissipation occur under these conditions. Linear two equation models are often not able to represent these effects correctly since their derivation is based on over-simplifications, such as the Boussinesq hypothesis, which makes it impossible to capture anisotropic turbulence. Advanced RANS models are usually not considered in the design process of turbomachines because (1) they are usually more delicate with regards to stability and convergence behavior and (2) require additional computational effort. To make the usage of advanced RANS models more applicable for complex turbomachinery simulations a selected group of models were implemented into a robust framework of a pressure-based fully coupled solver. To further enhance stability, coupling terms between the turbulent transport equations were derived for several models. Anisotropic turbulence is introduced by computing an algebraic expression or by solving the transport equations for the Reynolds stress components. The evaluation of the models is performed on the RWTH Aachen “Radiver” centrifugal compressor case with vaned diffuser. For design conditions and operation points near the stability limit, all investigated turbulence models predict the compressor characteristic. Operation points in the choking region on the other hand are only predicted well by anisotropic models. The good results and improved convergence behavior of the advanced RANS models clearly indicates their applicability in the design process of turbomachines.


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