On a 1/2-Equation Model of Turbulence

Abstract

In 1-equation URANS models of turbulence, the eddy viscosity is given by $\nu_T = 0.55l(x, t)\sqrt{k(x, t)}.$ The length scale $l$ must be pre-specified and $k(x, t)$ is determined by solving a nonlinear partial differential equation. We show that in interesting cases the spacial mean of $k(x, t)$ satisfies a simple ordinary differential equation. Using its solution in $\nu_T$ results in a 1/2-equation model. This model has attractive analytic properties. Further, in comparative tests in 2d and 3d the velocity statistics produced by the 1/2-equation model are comparable to those of the full 1-equation model.