DNS of Expansion Ratio Effects on Three-Dimensional Unsteady Separated Flow and Heat Transfer Around a Downward Step

The direct numerical simulation methodology was employed to analyze the unsteady features of a three-dimensional separated flow and heat transfer around a downward step in a rectangular channel, and to clarify systematically the channel expansion ratio effects upon them. Numerical calculations were carried out using the finite difference method. The Reynolds number Re based on the mean velocity at inlet and the step height was varied from 300 to 1000. The channel expansion ratio ER is 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 under a step aspect ratio of 36.0. It is found that the flow is steady upto Re = 500 but becomes sensibly unsteady at Re = 700 for all the three expansion ratios. In the case of ER = 2.0, the separated shear layer is most unstable. In the case of ER = 1.5, the longitudinal vortices formed near the side walls of channel are strongest. Nusselt number reaches its maximum in the reattachment flow region and also in the neighborhood of the side wall, and their locations depend greatly upon ER and Re.