Turbulence Models in ANSYS Fluent CFD

Reynolds Time-Averaged NavierStokes Equations (RANS)

Linear Eddy Viscosity Modeling
One-equation models typically include a viscosity-like variable v as another equation.
SpalartAllmaras vpseudoviscosity
no wall functions and smaller near-wall gradients inaccurate for shear flow, separated flow, or decaying
low memory requirements turbulence
stable
less sensitive to numerical error from non-layered mesh
near wall
shows good convergence

Two-equation models account for history effects like convection and diffusion of turbulent energy. No current two-
equation approach can handle buffer layer flow well, in which both Reynolds and viscous stresses are prominent.
k kturbulent kinetic energy
rate of dissipation of kinetic energy
best for free-shear layer flows with small P gradients inaccurate for adverse pressure gradients, strong
wall functions (buffer region flow not simulated) curvature, and jet flow
low memory requirements valid only for fully turbulent flow
shows good convergence

RNG k (renormalization group) kturbulent kinetic energy

generally more accurate and reliable than k:
especially for rotating flows (incl. time-
dependent turbulent vortex shedding)
favorable for indoor air simulations
formula for turbulent Pr number
rate of dissipation of kinetic energy
inaccurate for vortex evolution
unstable in steady-state solutions
1015% more CPU time

Realizable k kturbulent kinetic energy

rate of dissipation of kinetic energy
better for rotation, strong adverse pressure gradients, produces nonphysical turbluent viscosity in situations
recirculation, mixing, channel and BL flows with both rotating and stationary fluid zones
predicts spreading rate around planar and round jets (multiple reference frame systems)

k kturbulent kinetic energy

specific dissipation rate
no wall functions inaccurate for adverse pressure gradients, strong
low memory requirements curvature, and jet flow
often accurate where k model fails oversensitive to inlet free-stream turbulence properties
sensitive to initial guess

SST k (shear stress transport) kturbulent kinetic energy

rate of dissipation of kinetic energy
no wall functions overestimates turbulence in regions with large normal
accurate near wall strain (better than k, however)
converges slowly (use other model for initial guess)

Computational Science and Engineering University of Illinois

Nonlinear Eddy Viscosity Modeling
v2f model vvelocity scale
frelaxation function
similar to k but includes near-wall anisotropy and cannot solve eulerian multiphase problems
nonlocal pressurestrain effects
good for attached or separated BL flows, as well as
damping of turbulent transport near wall
no wall functions

Reynolds Stress Transport Model

RSM (Reynolds stress transport model) kturbulent kinetic energy
rate of dissipation of kinetic energy
good for anisotropic turbulence (highly swirling flows; moderately computationally expensive (5060% more
stress-driven secondary flows) CPU time; 1520% more memory over k)
converges slowly

Large Eddy Simulation (LES)

RNGLES CSSmagorinsky constant
resolves large scales in flow field CS not universal
models small scales (so faster than DNS) computationally expensive

Detached Eddy Simulation (DES)

DES (Detached Eddy Simulation)
hybrid treatment using RANS approach near wall and complicated grid generation
LES approach in bulk flow
(typically SpalartAllmaras for RANS)

Comparative Summary of Turbulence Models in Commercial & Open-Source CFD Packages (as of Oct. 2015)
Several packages also support transitional flow models as well.
COMSOL SpalartAllmaras, k, k, SST k-omega, low-Re k-epsilon
CFX Zeroeqn; k, RNG, EVT(1E); Wilcox, BSL, SST k; v2f; RSM, omega/BSL RSM, EARSM;
transition model; LES (Smagorinsky, wall-damping/WALE, SLilly); DES (SSTDES);
Scale-Adaptive Simulation Theory (SAS)
Fluent SpalartAllmaras; all three k; std and SST k; v2f; RSM; DES; LES
StarCCM+ SpalartAllmaras, k; realizable k; k SST; RSM; DES, DDES; LES, transition
OpenFOAM: Reynolds-average simulation (RAS) k; k SST, RNG k, realizable k, Spalart,
LES; DES; DNS
This document strives to be complete, but naturally will have omissions; if you discover any, please contact training@cse.illinois.edu.

Computational Science and Engineering University of Illinois