Advanced Turbulence Modelling of Separated Flow in a Diffuser

The paper describes an investigation into the predictive performance of linear and non-linear eddy-viscosity models and differential stress-transport closures for separated flow in a nominally two-dimensional, asymmetric diffuser. The test case forms part of a broader collaborative exercise between academic and industrial partners. It is demonstrated that advanced turbulence models using strain-dependent coefficients and anisotropy-resolving closure offer tangible advantages in predictive capability, although the quality of their performance can vary significantly, depending on the details of closure approximations adopted. Certain features of the flow defy resolution by any of the closures investigated. In particular, no model resolves correctly the flow near the diffuser's inclined wall immediately downstream of the inlet corner, which may reflect the presence of a “flapping” motion associated with a highly-localised process of unsteady separation and reattachment.