As defined by Wikipedia:
Turbulence modeling is the construction and use of a model to predict the effects of turbulence. Averaging is often used to simplify the solution of the governing equations of turbulence, but models are needed to represent scales of the flow that are not resolved.
J. Blazek has described how common models relate to each other:
| Level | Model name |
|---|---|
| Level 0 | Direct Numerical simulation (DNS) |
| Level 1 | Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) |
| Level 2 | Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations |
| Level 2 | 2nd order (closures). Reynolds-Stress Transport models (RST) |
| Level 2 | 2nd order. Algebraic Reynolds Stress models (ARS) |
| Level 3 | 1st order (closures) |
See also the numerical simulation part of the turbulence page, Large eddy simulation for more details.
J. Blazek,2001 Elsevier Computational Fluid Dynamics - Principles and Applications.