Modified algebraic model of laminar-turbulent transition for internal flows

Purpose For internal flows with small values of the Reynolds number, there is often at a considerable distance from the pipe inlet cross-section a change of the flow form from laminar to turbulent. To describe this phenomenon of laminar-turbulent transition in the pipe, also parallel-plate channel flow, a modified algebraic intermittency model was used. The original model for bypass transition developed by S. Kubacki and E. Dick was designed for simulating bypass transition in turbomachinery. Design/methodology/approach A modification of mentioned model was proposed. Modified model is suitable for simulating internal flows in pipes and parallel-plate channels. Implementation of the modified model was made using the OpenFOAM framework. Values of several constants of the original model were modified. Findings For selected Reynolds numbers and turbulence intensities (Tu), localization of laminar breakdown and fully turbulent flow was presented. Results obtained in this work were compared with corresponding experimental results available in the literature. It is particularly worth noting that asymptotic values of wall shear stress in flow channels and asymptotic values of axis velocity obtained during simulations are similar to related experimental and theoretical results. Originality/value The modified model allows precision numerical simulation in the area of transitional flow between laminar, intermittent and turbulent flows in pipes and parallel-plate channels. Proposed modified algebraic intermittency model presented in this work is described by a set of two additional partial differential equations corresponding with k-omega turbulence model presented by Wilcox (Wilcox, 2006).