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RANS and LES Computations of Natural Convection in a Square Cavity

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Journal of Engineering Physics and Thermophysics Aims and scope

Turbulent natural convection (Ra = 1.58·109) in a confined 3D square cavity with two differentially heated side walls are simulated numerically using the in-house EDF code (Code_Saturne) based on the unstructured finite volume solver. The objective of the present work is to investigate the performance of the low-Reynolds-number models known by their good suitability for the near-wall treatment. The low-Reynolds-number models, shear stress transport (SST) k–ω model, φ–f model which is a developed version of the original \({\overline{\upsilon }}^{2}\) f model, and the LES (large-eddy simulation) technique are used, and the results of their using are compared with the experimental benchmark data. The numerical results show quantitative and qualitative agreements. In general, the SST k–ω model gives good predictions for the temperature profiles, and the φ –f model is more accurate for the velocity profile prediction. This is mainly due to the good resolution of the turbulence properties in the near-wall region and to the ability to mimic the physical flow features in this type of geometries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Aeronautics and Propulsion Systems, Faculty of Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of Oran — Mohammed Boudiaf, El-M’Naouer, B.O. Box 1505, 31000, Oran, Algeria

    M. Belharizi & Tayeb Yahiaoui

  2. Preparatory School in Science and Technology, Achaba Hanifi, B.O. Box 64CH2, 31000, Oran, Algeria

    A. Khorsi

  3. Laboratory of Naval Aero-Hydrodynamics, Faculty of Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of Oran — Mohammed Boudiaf, El-M’Naouer, B.O. Box 1505, 31000, Oran, Algeria

    O. Ladjedel & L. Adjlout

  4. Laboratoire des Science et Ingénierie Maritimes (LSIM), Département de génie Maritime, Mechanical Engineering Faculty, USTO, Oran, Algeria

    F. Zemani

  5. Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Veveří 331/95, Brno, 60200, Czech Republic

    O. Sikula

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  1. M. Belharizi
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  3. Tayeb Yahiaoui
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Correspondence to Tayeb Yahiaoui.

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Published in Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 96, No. 4, pp. 1017–1027, July–August, 2023

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Belharizi, M., Khorsi, A., Yahiaoui, T. et al. RANS and LES Computations of Natural Convection in a Square Cavity. J Eng Phys Thermophy 96, 1017–1027 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10891-023-02765-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10891-023-02765-2

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