Investigation into the finite element analysis of confined turbulent flows using a k-epsilon model of turbulence (Q795648)

The finite element method is applied to turbulent confined flow problems adopting a primitive-variables formulation. The turbulence state is defined by a k-\(\epsilon\) model of turbulence. The argument is presented that the velocity components as well as k and \(\epsilon\) should be interpolated linearly. Near solid boundaries a wall-functions method is employed. A new and effective way of estimating the wall shear stress in the application of this method is proposed. The model is verified by investigating several examples. The results are compared with experiments and finite difference predictions.