The Numerical Prediction of Developing Turbulent Flow in Rectangular Ducts

Abstract

Comparisons are made between experimental data and numerical predictions based on a three-dimensional length-scale model applicable to developing turbulent flow in rectangular ducts of arbitrary aspect ratio. The numerical method utilizes an explicit (Dufort-Frankel) differencing scheme for the axial momentum equation and involves no iterative procedures. Although the basic technique has been applied previously to another class of three-dimensional flows, it has not been applied until now to slender shear flows dominated by secondary flow of the second kind. The merits of the length-scale model and the computational procedure are assessed by means of comparisons with results referred to both k–ε and full Reynolds stress closure models which have been applied in recent years.