Extension of the KDO Turbulence/Transition Model to Account for Roughness

Abstract Wall roughness significantly influences both laminar-turbulent transition process and fully developed turbulence. This work has developed a wall roughness extension for the KDO turbulence/transition model. The roughness effect is introduced via the modification of the k and νt boundary conditions, i.e., the wall is considered to be raised at an extra height. The equivalent roughness height is linked to the actual roughness height, and the ratio between them is determined by reasoning. With such a roughness extension, the predictions of the KDO RANS model agree well with the measurements of turbulent boundary layer with a sand grain surface, while the KDO transition model yields accurate cross-flow transition predictions of flow past a 6:1 spheroid.