On the Grid Sensitivity of the Wall Boundary Condition of the k-ω Turbulence Model

Abstract

This paper presents a study on the k-ω turbulence model with regard to the numerical implementation of the ω boundary condition at a solid wall, where ω tends to infinity. Three different implementations are tested in the calculation of a simple two-dimensional turbulent flow over a flat plate. Grid refinement studies in grids with different near-wall grid line spacings are performed to assess the numerical uncertainty of the predicted drag coefficient CD. The results are compared with the predictions of several alternative algebraic, one-equation, and two-equation eddy-viscosity turbulence models. For the same level of grid refinement, the estimated uncertainty of CD obtained with the k-ω model is one order of magnitude larger than for all the other models.