A structure-based model for the transport of passive scalars in homogeneous turbulent flows

•The Interacting Particle Representation Model (IPRM) is extended for passive scalar transport.•We develop a structure-based set of scale equations for the scalar field and couple them to the IPRM.•The complete model is evaluated for several cases of homogeneous deformation with good results.•We outline steps for coupling the new scalar scales to the Algebraic Structure-Based Model (ASBM). A structure-based model has been constructed, for the first time, for the study of passive scalar transport in turbulent flows. The scalar variance and the large-scale scalar gradient variance are proposed as the two turbulence scales needed for closure of the scalar equations in the framework of the Interacting Particle Representation Model (IPRM). The scalar dissipation rate is modeled in terms of the scalar variance and the large-scale enstrophy of the velocity field. Model parameters are defined by matching the decay rates in freely isotropic turbulence. The model is validated for a large number of cases of deformation in both fixed and rotating frames, showing encouraging results. The model shows good agreement with DNS results for the case of pure shear flow in the presence of either transverse or streamwise mean scalar gradient, while it correctly predicts the presence of direct cascade for the passive scalar variance in two dimensional isotropic turbulence.