Numerical Investigation of Developing Turbulent Flow in a Helical Square Ductwith Large Curvature

A fully elliptic numerical study has been carried out to investigate the three-dimensional turbulent developing flow in a helical square duct with large curvature. A two-layer zonal model is proposed and used, in which the whole region is divided into a viscosity-affected near wall layer and a fully turbulent region. A DSM closure is applied in the former, and a one-equation model is solved in the latter. The results presented in this paper cover a Reynolds number range of (l- 10) x 104. The development of flow is found to be dominated by radial pressure gradient and Dean-type secondary motion. The distribution of Reynolds stresses in fully developed flow exhibit a complex pattern of turbulence anisotropy The development of peripherally averaged friction factor and the distribution of local friction factor in fully developed flow are given and discussed.