Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Committee Chair

Daniel Foti

Abstract

High-fidelity large-eddy simulations of high Reynolds number flows in large wind and water tunnels become infeasible without wall modeling. In these facilities, turbulent boundary layers grow and may be subject to wall curvature. In this study, we consider two well-documented test cases of large facilities. First, is the empty test section of the William B. Morgan Large Cavitation Channel. The 72 m long facility includes a unique, high-curvature inlet nozzle after the first turn and a long outlet diffuser separated by a 100 ft long test section with a cross-sectional area of approximately 100 sq ft. The BeVERLI Hill case features a wall-mounted hill configuration in the center of a 12 m long wind tunnel. We employ the curvilinear immersed boundary method with large-eddy simulation to model the turbulence. Due to the high curvature in the boundary conditions, the assumption of a simplified turbulent equilibrium boundary layer is invalid. Several wall models are assessed, including an equilibrium wall model and a power-law wall model. The errors in the wall models are quantified, which shows the need for a more accurate wall model to handle adverse pressure gradients and curvature. Thus, the integral wall model is refined and implemented in large-eddy simulations. A fully developed turbulent boundary layer is used to validate the wall model, and the integral wall model is further applied to a curved wall case and a full-scale simulation of the Large Cavitation Channel.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

PDF

Notes

Open access.

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