Numerical study of oscillating boundary layer flow over a flat plate using k–kL–ω turbulence model

•Oscillating boundary layer flow over infinite flat plate at rest simulated using k–kL–ω turbulence model.•Simulation conducted for flow regimes ranging from fully laminar flow to fully turbulent flow.•Results predicted by k–kL–ω model compare very well with experimental and LES model results.•The k–kL–ω model is able to accurately predict the onset of transition for intermittently turbulent flow regime.

Oscillating boundary layer flow over an infinite flat plate at rest was simulated using the k–kL–ω turbulence model for a Reynolds number range of 32 ⩽ Reδ ⩽ 10,000 ranging from fully laminar flow to fully turbulent flow. The k–kL–ω model was validated by comparing the predictions with LES results and experimental results for intermittently turbulent and fully turbulent flow regimes. The good agreement obtained between the k–kL–ω model prediction with the experimental and LES results indicate that the k–kL–ω model is able to accurately simulate transient intermittently turbulent flow and as well as accurately predict the onset of turbulence for such oscillatory flows.