Assessment of Transitional RANS Models and Implementation of Transitional IDDES Method for Boundary Layer Transition and Separated Flows in OpenFOAM-V2312

Abstract

Traditional hybrid RANS/LES methods often struggle to accurately capture both the boundary layer transition and flow separation simultaneously due to their reliance on fully turbulent RANS models. To address this limitation, the present study first evaluates three transitional RANS models (γ-Reθt-SST, γ-SST, and Kγ-SST) on the E387 airfoil. The results demonstrate that the γ-SST model offers the best balance of accuracy and computational efficiency in predicting laminar separation bubbles (LSBs) and transition points. Building on this, we implement the γ-SST-IDDES model into OpenFOAM-v2312, which integrates the γ-SST transitional RANS model with the Improved Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (IDDES) approach. This coupling allows for the simultaneous prediction of the laminar-turbulent transition and high-fidelity resolution of separated flows. The γ-SST-IDDES model is rigorously validated across three airfoil cases with distinct separation characteristics: E387 (small separation), DBLN-526 (moderate separation), and NACA 0021 (massive separation). The results show that the γ-SST-IDDES model outperforms conventional methods, capturing leading-edge LSBs with high accuracy compared to fully turbulent IDDES. Additionally, it successfully resolves complex 3D vortical structures in separated regions, whereas unsteady URANS provides only quasi-2D results.