A composite finite element-finite difference model applied to turbulence modelling

Turbulence has been modeled by a two equation k-omega turbulence model to investigate the wind induced circulation patterns in coastal waters. Predictions of the model have been compared by the predictions of two equation k-epsilon turbulence model. Kinetic energy of turbulence is k, dissipation rate of turbulence is epsilon, and frequency of turbulence is omega. In the three dimensional modeling of turbulence by k-epsilon model and by k-omega model, a composite finite element-finite difference method has been used. The governing equations are solved by the Galerkin Weighted Residual Method in the vertical plane and by finite difference approximations in the horizontal plane. The water depths in coastal waters are divided into the same number of layers following the bottom topography. Therefore, the vertical layer thickness is proportional to the local water depth. It has been seen that two equation k-omega turbulence model leads to better predictions compared to k-epsilon model in the prediction of wind induced circulation in coastal waters.