Prediction of Turbulent Flows in Rotating Rectangular Ducts

Abstract

This paper reports on progress made in the development of a numerical predictive procedure for turbulent flows in rotating rectangular ducts. The unknown turbulent stresses were approximated with the k–ε model of turbulence while Speziale’s (1987) nonlinear stress-strain relationship was utilized to capture the turbulence-driven secondary motions. Data from stationary rectangular ducts of aspect ratios in the range 1:1 to 10:1 were used to check the model. It was found that the occurrence and consequences of these motions were well reproduced. Application of the model to rotating rectangular ducts yielded results which suggest that the interactions between the pressure and turbulence-driven motions are far more important than hitherto suspected.