Comparison of the predictive capabilities of several turbulence models

Four turbulence models are evaluated for transonic separated flows using two well-established solvers, one upwind and one central difference. The equilibrium model of Baldwin-Lomax predicts separated-flow shock locations too far aft. The effects of several modifications to the half-equation model of Johnson-King are explored in detail, and different versions of the model are compared. Good results for twoand three-dimensional flows can be obtained using two different versions of this model. The one-equation models of Baldwin-Barth and Spalart-Allmaras perform well for airfoil flows, but can predict the shock too far forward at the outboard stations of a separated wing. The effects of numerical truncation error are assessed using grid-refinement studies in combination with varying the numerical dissipation levels in both codes.