Turbulence modeling of the Von Karman flow: Viscous and inertial stirrings

The present work considers the turbulent Von Karman flow generated by two counter-rotating smooth flat (viscous stirring) or bladed (inertial stirring) disks. Numerical predictions based on one-point statistical modeling using a low-Reynolds number second-order full stress transport closure (RSM model) are compared to velocity measurements performed at CEA (Commissariat I'Energie Atomique, France). The main and significant novelty of this paper is the use of a drag force in the momentum equations to reproduce the effects of inertial stirring instead of modeling the blades themselves. The influences of the rotational Reynolds number, the aspect ratio of the cavity, the rotating disk speed ratio and of the presence or not of impellers are investigated to get a precise knowledge of both the dynamics and the turbulence properties in the Von Karman configuration. In particular, we highlighted the transition between the merged and separated boundary layer regimes and the one between the Batchelor [Batchelor, G.K., 1951. Note on a class of solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations representing steady rotationally-symmetric flow. Quat. J. Mech. Appl. Math. 4 (1), 29-41] and the Stewartson [Stewartson.. K., 1953. On the flow between two rotating coaxial disks. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 49, 333-341] flow structures in the smooth disk case. We determined also the transition between the one cell and the two cell regimes for both viscous and inertial stirrings. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.