Turbulent flows over mountainous terrain modelled by the Reynolds equations

A numerical model based upon fundamental principles, a standard (k, epsilon) turbulence closure and a finite element integration technique, is applied to separated flows over hills. Predictions are compared to experimental data from a wind funnel. Although few-equation turbulence closures have been shown to have obvious deficiencies with respect to comparable flows, the model predicts remarkably accurately, without coefficient adjustments of any kind. Even the turbulent intensity is predicted quite realistically.