Modifying a meshless method to solving κ−ε turbulent natural convection heat transfer

The conventional meshless local Petrov–Galerkin method is modified to enable the method to solve turbulent convection heat transfer problems. The modifications include developing a new computer code which empowers the method to adopt nonlinear equations. A source term expressed in terms of turbulent viscosity gradients is appended to the code to optimize the accuracy for turbulent flow domains. The standard κ−ε transport equations, one of the most applicable two equation turbulent viscosity models, is incorporated, appropriately, into the developed code to bring about both versibility and stability for turbulent natural heat transfer applications. The amenability of the new developed technique is tested by applying the modified method to two conventional turbulent fluid flow test cases. Upon the obtained acceptable results, the modified technique is, next, applied to two conventional natural heat transfer test cases for their turbulent domain. Based on comparing the results of the new technique with those of the available experimental or conventional numerical methods, the proposed method shows good adaptability and accuracy for both the fluid flow and convection heat transfer applications in turbulent domains. The new technique, now, furthers the applicability of the mesh-free local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) method to turbulent flow and heat transfer problems and provides much closer results to those of the available experimental or conventional numerical methods.