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Highlights • Different curvature correction models are described, and incorporated into the SST k − ω model • By considering the classical Rankine vortex, the response of the curvature correction models in the viscous vortex core, and in the inviscid outside region are investigated. • It is shown that some of the curvature correction models are so sensitive to their clipping values, or their calibration parameters. • It is noted that the curvature correction models that can accurately predict the tip vortex flow fields, alter the boundary layer behaviour on the foil, and form a leading edge vortex. Abstract This paper presents and studies effects of curvature correction (CC) methods to improve two equation RANS simulations of tip vortex flows, exemplified using the SST k − ω turbulence model. Performance of the CC models is first evaluated in the classical Rankine vortex flow field, and then extended into the study of tip vortex flows over an elliptical foil. The results have been compared with experimental measurements in terms of the vortex strength and velocity field, and the importance of the turbulence closure in tip vortex simulations is highlighted. Contribution of the CC models in different terms of the turbulent kinetic energy and specific dissipation transport equations are described, and it is discussed why a CC model may have mesh resolution dependent results. By considering the distribution of the CC function, it is shown that although some of the models can predict the location of the tip vortex core accurately, they still do not significantly improve the vortex prediction as the impact on the turbulent viscosity is wrong or not enough. It is further noted that as some of these models have been calibrated on specific vortex flows, they may not be completely applicable for other cases without recalibration. It is shown that some CC models provide accurate tip vortex predictions, primarily the ones based on the sensitization of the turbulent viscosity. Further, it is noteworthy that the successful models are active not only around the vortex, but also change the boundary layer characteristics on the foil, and the boundary layer separation lines, which consequently can provide the required momentum for the vortex core accelerated axial velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study re-visits the largely overlooked, but highly promising, topic of multi-scale RANS modelling for non-equilibrium turbulent flows. The paper presents the development of RANS models which, at an effective-viscosity level, involve two transport equations for the turbulent kinetic energy; one for the energy of the large scale, energy-producing, eddies and one for that of the smaller eddies, which, through continuous break-up, transfer turbulence energy to the dissipative scales. Two transport equations for the transfer-rate of the turbulent kinetic energy are also necessary, one for the rate of energy transfer from the large to the smaller scales and one for the rate of transfer from the smaller to the dissipative scales, the latter being of course the dissipation rate of turbulence. The two-time-scale model of Hanjalic et al. (1980) has been the starting point of the current developments. The coefficients of the terms which appear in these models have been determined from asymptotic analyses of decaying grid turbulence, homogeneous shear flows and local-equilibrium boundary-layer flows. The models were subsequently further developed to become more responsive to strong non-equilibrium features, such as those caused by strong shear. It has been identified that in general, models which have been optimised to satisfy equilibrium flows (as is usually done) are unable to capture the strong changes the flows are subjected to due to highly non-equilibrium effects, thus needing further development. Within the two-time-scale framework, it has been found possible to overcome this problem, by exploiting the additional information available on the turbulence spectrum. In a further departure from the development of earlier effective-viscosity two-time scale models, here the eddy viscosity expression is made sensitive to the local strain rate, as was also the case in single-scale models developed by Craft et al. (1996). The original contribution of this research is the development of two widely tested two-time-scale linear-eddy-viscosity models, referred to here as NT1 and NT2. The difference between these two models is primarily in the eddy viscosity formulation. The two resulting models have been tested over nine test cases and their performance has been compared to those of the standard high-Reynolds number k − ɛ model, the SSG Reynolds stress transport model and the two-time-scale model of Hanjalic et al. (1980) . The test cases comprise of homogeneous shear and normally strained flows, adverse-pressure-gradient, favourable-pressure-gradient and oscillatory boundary layer flows, fully developed oscillatory and ramp up pipe flows and steady and pulsated backward-facing step flows. The models proposed here show considerable promise. They perform well in all cases tested and provide clear improvements over a range of single- and multi-scale models tested in an earlier study (Klein et al., 2015), over a set of test cases which cover a wide range of physical flow phenomena. Moreover, these improvements are achieved without any significant increase in computational requirements in comparison to the computational needs of single-time-scale eddy-viscosity models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structure-based turbulence models (SBM) carry information about the turbulence structure that is needed for the prediction of complex non-equilibrium flows. SBM have been successfully used to predict a number of canonical flows, yet their adoption rate in engineering practice has been relatively low, mainly because of their departure from standard closure formulations, which hinders easy implementation in existing codes. Here, we demonstrate the coupling between the Algebraic Structure-Based Model (ASBM) and the one-equation Spalart–Allmaras (SA) model, which provides an easy route to bringing structure information in engineering turbulence closures. As the ASBM requires correct predictions of two turbulence scales, which are not taken into account in the SA model, Bradshaw relations and numerical optimizations are used to provide the turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation rate. Attention is paid to the robustness and accuracy of the hybrid model, showing encouraging results for a number of simple test cases. An ASBM module in Fortran-90 is provided along with the present paper in order to facilitate the testing of the model by interested readers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]