Ventilation of passenger car cabins: comparison of experimental data and numerical calculations

The complex flow in the interior of a passenger car cabin is measured and calculated in a Reynolds number range of practical importance. It turns out that the mean flow field compares quite well, even in minor details. But, experiments and calculations deviate considerably as far as turbulent quantities are concerned. The situation is analysed by a closer look to the physics of the flow field. From this, conclusions are drawn why the k−ɛ model applied here might be inappropriate for the flow field under consideration.