URANS numerical simulations of pulsating flows considering streamwise pressure gradient on asymmetric diffuser

Abstract

Abstract The paper focuses on implementing the wall model developed by Manhart, in Reynolds Averaged Navier - Stokes (RANS) turbulence models used in the field of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This wall model considers the influence of the streamwise pressure gradient in addition to the existing wall models used in the usual CFD codes. In the present work, two RANS numerical simulations are carried out using the k-ω Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence model on an asymmetric diffuser geometry. One numerical simulation is carried out using the implementation of the Manhart wall model in the k-ω SST turbulence model, and the other numerical simulation is performed using the standard formulation of the k-ω SST turbulence model. The numerical simulations carried out using the Manhart wall model and the standard formulation of the k-ω SST are compared with experimental measurements made on the asymmetric diffuser experimental installation. The numerical simulations are carried out using a free, open-source CFD tool, Code_Saturne. The comparisons between numerical simulations and the experimental data are in good agreement in the boundary layer of the flow inside the diffuser. The Manhart wall model had a faster convergence resulting in a shorter simulation time.