Effectiveness of Spalart-Allmaras Turbulence Model in Analysis of Curved Cooling Channels

In this study, the standard and the modified Spalart-Allmaras one-equation turbulence models are implemented in a numerical solver to assess their effectiveness in describing the coolant flow in curved rocket engine cooling channels. Comparison with published experimental data has demonstrated that, in the case of curvature, the modified turbulence model improves the prediction of the skin friction but not of the heat transfer with respect to the standard one. Then, the analysis of two sample test cases inspired by the cooling circuit of the space shuttle main engine have shown that the standard Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model can be profitably used to describe the coolant flowfield and heat transfer.