Derivation of the k-ε model

Start with the RANS equations (RANS), here for ρ = const

Du i −1 ∂p ∂ 2 ui ∂ui0 uj0
= +ν − , (RANS)
Dt ρ ∂xi ∂xj ∂xj ∂xj
where we defined the substantial derivative over the mean flow as
Dφ ∂φ ∂φ
:= + uj .
Dt ∂t ∂xj

We don’t know the Reynolds stresses ui0 uj0 . This is referred to as an unclosed term. We could
derive a transport equation of the form

Dui0 uj0
= ...,
Dt
but this will lead to more unclosed terms like the triple correlation ui0 uj0 uk0 , which is still unclosed.
This unfortunate situation is called closure problem.
To resolve this situation, we need additional equations which give us the Reynolds stress ui0 uj0 .
The k-ε model solves two additional PDEs to find the stresses, which means it’s a two equation
model.
Firstly, we assume that we can model the Reynolds stress sort of like the stress in a Newtonian
fluid. In a Newtonian fluid, we have (with Stokes’ assumption)

dev (σ) = 2µs. (NF)

In the Boussinesq eddy viscosity ansatz, we have

dev(ρCov (u)) := −2µT s ⇔
1 (EV)
aij := ui0 uj0 − uk0 uk0 δij := −2νT s ij .
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As far as I see, the minus − 2νT in (EV) stems from the fact that strictly speaking, the kinematic
Reynolds stress tensor is − ui0 uj0 , as can be seen in (RANS).
This νT is known as the kinematic eddy viscosity. It is not a property of a fluid like a real
viscosity, but instead a property of the flow. We then define the turbulent kinetic energy as
1 0 0
k := uu. (TKE)
2 i i
In the following subsection, we derive a transport equation for k

Derivation of the transport equation for the turbulent kinetic energy k

Start with the usual incompressible Navier-Stokes momentum equations (NS) without body
forces
∂ui ∂ui −1 ∂p ∂ 2 ui
+ uj = +ν . (NS)
∂t ∂xj ρ ∂xi ∂xj ∂xj
Subtract the RANS equation (RANS) from it to get a transport equation for the fluctuations
ui0
∂ui0 0 ∂u i ∂ui0 0
0 ∂ui −1 ∂p 0 ∂ 2 ui0 ∂ui0 uj0
+ uj + uj + uj = +ν + . (NSFLUCT)
∂t ∂xj ∂xj ∂xj ρ ∂xi ∂xj ∂xj ∂xj

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 Then, multiply both sides by ui0 , average and simplify to get a transport equation for k

Dk
= Pk + Tk + Dk − ε
Dt
Pk := −ui0 uj0 s ij turb. production
 
∂ 1 0 0 0
1 0 0
Tk := − uj ui ui + p uj turb. transport
∂xj 2 ρ (KTSP)
2
∂ k
Dk := ν turb. diffusion
∂xj ∂xj
∂ui0 ∂ui0
ε := ν dissipation.
∂xj ∂xj

In the transport equation, Pk , Tk and ε are still unclosed.

Closing turbulent production Pk

To close Pk , we first employ the eddy viscosity ansatz (EV) to get rid of the Reynolds stress
ui0 uj0 .
Pk = −ui0 uj0 s ij = 2νT s ij s ij .
Now, how do we address νT ? We use dimensional analysis to set it proportional to k α εβ for
some α and β.
The target variable νT has dimensions m2 s −1 . k has dimensions m2 s −2 and ε has dimensions
2 −3
m s as can be seen from (KTSP).
This yields the following system of equations
    
2 2 α 2
= . (NUDIM)
−2 −3 β −1

Solving it, we determine α = 2, β = −1, so we set

k2
νT :∝ . (NUPROP)
ε
The proportionality constant cµ of (NUPROP) is a model parameter.

Closing turbulent transport Tk

Instead of specifying equations for uj0 ui0 ui0 and 1ρ p 0 uj0 , we directly model Tk as gradient diffusion
(Fickian)  
νT
Tk := div grad(k) . (TKGRADDIFF)
σk
σk is called the turbulent Prandtl number and is a model constant.

Derivation of the transport equation for the dissipation ε

We could also start from the Navier-Stokes equations and then derive an equation for the
∂u 0 ∂u 0
dissipation ε = ν ∂xji ∂xji . Doing so would however lead to a zoo of new unclosed terms which we
can’t treat appropriately because we can’t measure them nicely in experiments. So we surrender

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and just assume that the structure of the transport equation is analogous to the one for k
(KTSP)

Dε
= Tε + Pε − Γε
Dt  
νt
Tε := div grad(ε) dissipation transport
σε (EPSTSP)
Pk ε
Pε := cε1 production of dissipation
k
ε2
Γε := cε2 destruction of dissipation,
k
where σε , cε1 , cε2 are model constants.

When to use this model

The k-ε works well in free shear flows (high Re, away from walls). Near walls, the k-ω model is
better. It fails in strongly curved flows, swirling flows and flows with recirculation zones because
of the eddy-viscosity approximation.