Assessment of Turbulence Models for S-Duct Flows: A Comparison of SA and SST Approaches Cenaero

Abstract

Aircraft S-ducts are prone to flow distortion, which can significantly affect downstream compressor performance. This work aims to assess the capability of several turbulence models to predict such distortions. Numerical simulations were performed using SU2 on structured and unstructured meshes, based on AIAA benchmark conditions. Results show that the Spalart–Allmaras model provides the best compromise between accuracy and robustness, while more advanced models do not significantly improve predictions. These findings highlight the limitations of RANS models for separated flows and suggest the need for higher–fidelity approaches.