Finite element analysis of turbulent forced convection in lid‐driven rectangular cavities

Turbulent fluid flow and heat transfer in lid‐driven rectangular cavities are analysed by a finite element procedure for the prediction of the turbulent forced convection in two‐dimensional recirculating flows. The ( k –ε) model is used to compute effective viscosities and thermal conductivities. The fluid flow and turbulence model parabolic equations are solved sequentially, one after the other. Then, the calculated velocity distribution is used in the solution of the steady state energy equation to yield the temperature field. Aspect ratios e =0·75, 1·0 and 1·5 and Reynolds numbers ranging from 5 × 10 4 to 4 × 10 5 are considered in the numerical examples.