A new Reynolds stress algebraic equation model Original Research Article

A general turbulent constitutive relation [1] is directly applied to propose a new Reynolds stress algebraic equation model. In the development of this model, the constraints based on rapid distortion theory and realizability (i.e. the positivity of the normal Reynolds stresses and the Schwarzʹ inequality between turbulent velocity correlations) are imposed. Model coefficients are calibrated using well-studied basic flows such as homogenous shear flow and the surface flow in the inertial sublayer. The performance of this model is then tested in complex turbulent flows including the separated flow over a backward-facing step and the flow in a confined jet. The calculation results are encouraging and point to the success of the present model in modeling turbulent flows with complex geometries.