An Application of the Finite Element Method and Two Equation (K and E) Turbulence Model to Two and Three Dimensional Fluid Flow Problems Governed by the Navier-Stokes Equations

• Main Author: Finnie, John I.
• Format: Others
• Published: DigitalCommons@USU 1987
• Subjects: Fluid mechanics; Turbulence Model; Navier Stokes; Finite Element; Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/7350; https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8461&context=etd

Finite Element computer codes in two and three dimensions were written that solve both laminar and turbulent flow. These codes use the two equation (k and E) turbulence model to evaluate turbulent viscosity. They were tested with 29 different flow problems. The largest two dimensional turbulent problem solved is flow under a sluice gate. A three dimensional vortex flow problem was attempted but was not feasible due to the size of the available computer. The Harwell sparse matrix subroutines of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority were used to solve the set of simultaneous equations. The performance of these subroutines is evaluated. The importance of defining adequate finite element grids and setting proper boundary and initial conditions is discussed.