Modeling flows around bluff bodies by Reynolds averaged transport equations

Abstract Three examples show how flows in very realistic geometries are now simulated by industrial CFD codes. Industry has now well digested the k-ϵ model even in the finite element context, and the delay between research findings and industrial application is shown to be very much reduced. After a few words on numerical implementation of second moment closures, applications of these closures to blunt obstacles aerodynamics show that this level of modeling is mandatory because the k-ϵ can only model shear or wall parallel flows and is 100% wrong in impinging flows. Modeling the pressure-strains at cubic level introduces further improvements. The question of modeling non-steady mean flows and partitioning of applications between Reynolds averaging and direct or large eddy simulation is finally addressed.