%0 Journal Article %A Wang, Xiuling %A Carrington, David B. %A Pepper, Darrell W. %D 2009 %I Begell House %N 2 %P 121-135 %R 10.1615/ComputThermalScien.v1.i2.20 %T ADAPTIVE FEM MODEL FOR UNSTEADY TURBULENT CONVECTIVE FLOW OVER A BACKWARD-FACING STEP %U https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/648192910890cd0e,2deca81e4004b9ae,02fd517336ab4391.html %V 1 %X An adaptive finite element algorithm for solving turbulent convective flow over a backward-facing step using a two-equation low−Reynolds number model has been developed. The mesh is dynamically controlled using an L2 norm error estimator. Petrov-Galerkin weighting is used for the advection terms. Complex features within the flow including boundary layer development and reattachments points are resolved using high-density localized mesh refinement. Simulation results are obtained for a Reynolds number equal to 28,000, with the channel's expansion ratio equal to 1.25 and the Prandtl number set to 0.71. A constant uniform heat flux of 270 W/m2 is specified along the wall downstream from the step; all the other walls are set to adiabatic conditions. Simulation results for mean velocity profiles, mean temperature profiles, turbulence kinetic energy, and friction coefficient distributions are obtained. Results are compared with both numerical and experimental data in the literature. Good agreement is observed. %8 2009-05-18