Validation of a transitional turbulence model for flow over the BeVERLI Hill geometry

Abstract

The aim of the current study is to provide the validation dataset on the VT-NASA Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Turbulence Model Validation Challenge, which comprises three-dimensional smooth-body flow separation over BeVERLI Hill geometry using transitional turbulence model of SST γ – Reθ. The simulations are performed on both as-designed (idealized) and as-built (scanned) geometries using two level of the fully structured computational domains at two hill height based Reynolds numbers of 250,000 and 650,000. Numerical predictions of surface pressure, surface streamlines, velocity profiles, and turbulent kinetic energy were compared against wind tunnel data. Results show generally good agreement in mean flow quantities, while suction peaks and turbulent kinetic energy are underpredicted, highlighting both the strengths and limitations of the model for transitional separated flows.