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Turbulence length scale

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The turbulence length scale, <math>l</math> , is a physical quantity describing the size of the large energy containing eddies in a turbulent flow.  
The turbulence length scale, <math>l</math> , is a physical quantity describing the size of the large energy containing eddies in a turbulent flow.  
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The turbulent lenght-scale is often used to estimate the turbulent properties on the inlets of a CFD simulation. Since the turbulent lenght-scale is a quantity which is intuitively easy to realte to the physical size of the problem it is easy to guess a reasonable value of the turbulent lenght-scale. The turbulent lenght-scale should normally not be larger than the dimension of the problem, since that would mean that the turbulent eddies are larger than the problem size.
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The turbulent lenght-scale is often used to estimate the turbulent properties on the inlets of a CFD simulation. Since the turbulent lenght-scale is a quantity which is intuitively easy to relate to the physical size of the problem it is easy to guess a reasonable value of the turbulent lenght-scale. The turbulent lenght-scale should normally not be larger than the dimension of the problem, since that would mean that the turbulent eddies are larger than the problem size.
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In the [[Standard k-epsilon model|k-epsilon model] the turbulent lenghts-scale can be written as:
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In the [[Standard k-epsilon model|k-epsilon model]] the turbulent lenghts-scale can be computed as:
:<math>l = C_\mu \, \frac{k^\frac{3}{2}}{\epsilon}</math>
:<math>l = C_\mu \, \frac{k^\frac{3}{2}}{\epsilon}</math>
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Where :<math>C_mu</math> is a model constant which in the standrd version of the k-epsilon model has a value of 0.09.
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Where :<math>C_\mu</math> is a model constant which in the standrd version of the k-epsilon model has a value of 0.09.
==Estimating the turbulent lenght-scale==
==Estimating the turbulent lenght-scale==
It is common to set the turbulent lenght-scale to a certain percantage of a typical dimension of the problem. For example, at the inlet to a turbine stage a typical turbulent lenght-scale could be say 5% of the channel height. In grid-generated turbulence the turbulent length-scale is often set to something close to the size of the grid bars. In pipe-flows the turbulent lenght-scale can be estimated from the [[hydraulic diameter]] in fully developed pipe-flow the turbulent lenght-scale is 7% of the hydraulic diamater (in the case of a circular pipe the hydraulic diameter is the same as the diameter of the pipe)
It is common to set the turbulent lenght-scale to a certain percantage of a typical dimension of the problem. For example, at the inlet to a turbine stage a typical turbulent lenght-scale could be say 5% of the channel height. In grid-generated turbulence the turbulent length-scale is often set to something close to the size of the grid bars. In pipe-flows the turbulent lenght-scale can be estimated from the [[hydraulic diameter]] in fully developed pipe-flow the turbulent lenght-scale is 7% of the hydraulic diamater (in the case of a circular pipe the hydraulic diameter is the same as the diameter of the pipe)

Revision as of 21:03, 23 March 2006

The turbulence length scale, l , is a physical quantity describing the size of the large energy containing eddies in a turbulent flow.

The turbulent lenght-scale is often used to estimate the turbulent properties on the inlets of a CFD simulation. Since the turbulent lenght-scale is a quantity which is intuitively easy to relate to the physical size of the problem it is easy to guess a reasonable value of the turbulent lenght-scale. The turbulent lenght-scale should normally not be larger than the dimension of the problem, since that would mean that the turbulent eddies are larger than the problem size.

In the k-epsilon model the turbulent lenghts-scale can be computed as:

l = C_\mu \, \frac{k^\frac{3}{2}}{\epsilon}

Where :C_\mu is a model constant which in the standrd version of the k-epsilon model has a value of 0.09.

Estimating the turbulent lenght-scale

It is common to set the turbulent lenght-scale to a certain percantage of a typical dimension of the problem. For example, at the inlet to a turbine stage a typical turbulent lenght-scale could be say 5% of the channel height. In grid-generated turbulence the turbulent length-scale is often set to something close to the size of the grid bars. In pipe-flows the turbulent lenght-scale can be estimated from the hydraulic diameter in fully developed pipe-flow the turbulent lenght-scale is 7% of the hydraulic diamater (in the case of a circular pipe the hydraulic diameter is the same as the diameter of the pipe)

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