“Return to equilibrium” anisotropy model for non-equilibrium Reynolds stress closures

Abstract

A long-standing question in the Reynolds-averaged modeling of turbulent flow is how to predict accurately flows with temporal or spatial unsteadiness. In this paper, we present a “return to equilibrium” approach to modeling the unsteady Reynolds stress anisotropy bij in terms of differential transport equations, the solutions to which are constrained by algebraic closures for bij in flows at equilibrium and by the corresponding rapid-distortion-theory solutions for flows far from equilibrium. When coupled with scale equations for the turbulent kinetic energy and the dissipation rate, these anisotropy evolution equations comprise a complete closure scheme for which no additional model coefficients are required. Evaluations of this closure scheme, in which two different existing equilibrium algebraic models for bij were employed, were carried out for homogeneous turbulence in flows with a step imposition of shear, with continuously oscillatory shear at different frequencies and with a prescribed time-dependent plane-strain rate. Good agreement was achieved between model predictions and experimental/simulation target data in all test cases, with either Girimaji's bij model or a structure-based bij model used as the equilibrium algebraic closure.