[MrMatt2532]

I'm looking for a way to model the effects of freestream turbulence on laminar heat transfer. This is a well known effect and it can be seen on the front half of cylinders in crossflow and on the leading edge of airfoils. I can find a fair amount of literature documenting the effect, but I don't know of any common cfd models that handle it.

Also note that I understand freestream turbulence has an effect on transition, and that is fine, but what I am concerned with specifically is the effect on the heat transfer prior to transition.

So far I have tried the SST model with the gamma theta transitional turbulence model turned on. But prior to transition, the effect of freestream turbulence on heat transfer appears negligible.

Any suggestions?

[ghorrocks]

I do not think you can do this using a RANS model (even the turbulence transition model). You are going to have to use a LES model to capture this effect.