Comparison of Turbulence Models in the Simulation of Fluid Flow in Corrugated Channel

Abstract:

Turbulence is a highly complex and challenging phenomenon to study, especially in the field of fluid dynamics, where many applications rely on accurate predictions of turbulent flow behavior. Due to its random and chaotic nature, turbulence is difficult to model precisely, but achieving reliable results is essential for solving numerous engineering problems. Various turbulence models, each with specific strengths and limitations, have been developed to address this challenge. This study focuses on comparing three widely used turbulence models (k−ϵ, k−ω, and the Reynolds Stress Model (RSM)) to evaluate their accuracy in simulating turbulent flow within a corrugated channel. The aim of this study is to simulate and achieve better result accuracy while minimizing computational cost in this geometry, both with and without vortex generators. The investigation begins with a trapezoidal channel, after which vortex generators are introduced to assess their impact on flow behavior. Vortex generators are known to enhance heat transfer by promoting flow separation and modifying the flow direction, making their effect critical in such simulations. The computational analysis is conducted using ANSYS Fluent, a commercial software for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and heat transfer modeling, which operates on the finite volume method to ensure conservation of physical properties. Results will be presented through detailed graphical representations and contour plots, followed by a comprehensive discussion of the comparative performance of each model.

• Periodical: Advances in Science and Technology (Volume 165)
• Pages: 53-64
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-7SAkva
• Online since: June 2025
• Authors: Aimen Tanougast*, Krisztián Hriczó
• Keywords: CFD, Corrugated Channel, K-ε, K-ω, Reynolds Stress Model (RSM), Turbulence, Vortex Generators

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