A selective review of CFD transition models

This paper aims to give an overview of the more widely used approaches to model transition in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Eight different methods are reviewed: the stability theory approach, the low Reynolds number turbulent closure approach, the intermittency transport method with integral correlations, the intermittency and the vorticity Reynolds number approach, the laminar fluctuation energy method, the v̄2 − f model, and the Large Eddy Simulations (LES) and Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) for transition. The approaches are compared to one another, highlighting their respective advantages and drawbacks. From this analysis, a list of desirable features for CFD transition models is drawn up, against which the eight approaches are scored.