Partially-averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) simulations of flow separation over smooth curved surfaces

The objective of this study is to investigate flow separation in a channel with periodic hill-shaped constrictions using the Partially-averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) methodology. Flow Reynolds numbers based on the bulk velocity above the crest of the hill and hill height are 10590 and 37000. Several PANS simulations are performed to study the effect of cut-off length scale and grid resolution. Turbulence statistics such as mean velocity and Reynolds stresses are compared against well documented experimental data and numerical results. Instantaneous and averaged flow structures as well as anisotropy-invariant maps are also presented in this paper.