Implementation of a Lag Elliptic-Blending model for RANS equations in OpenFOAM

Abstract

Turbulence modeling remains a significant challenge in Computational Fluid Dynamics. Achieving a balance between model accuracy and computational efficiency often leads to the widespread utilization of RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes) turbulence models. The current study focuses on implementing the k−ε Lag Elliptic Blending turbulence model within OpenFOAM®. This extension of the conventional k−ε model introduces an elliptic equation to handle non-uniform behavior near walls and a transport equation to account for the lag between stress and strain tensors. Comparison of results from two benchmark cases with those obtained from the commercial software STAR-CCM+®, which also includes the model, reveals good agreement between the two codes. Consequently, the implementation can be considered verified.