Evaluation of Various Turbulence Models in Predicting Flow Behavior in Meandering Channels

Several turbulence models have been developed in the past years. However, it is a must to appraise the generality and precision of the models for distinct hydraulic phenomena. This survey evaluates the performance of five different turbulence models in predicting flow behavior in an open channel bend. Accordingly, 3D numerical simulations were carried out using a computational fluid dynamics code that employs the finite volume method to solve the governing equations. Their accuracies were analyzed with observed data from experimental studies of an ordinary 90 open channel bend, and the best suited turbulence models were introduced.

Keywords:

turbulence models , meandering channel , two-phase flow , volume of fluid