Numerical predictions of flows over backward-facing steps

Predictions are reported for two‐dimensional, steady, incompressible flows over rearward‐facing steps for both laminar and turbulent conditions. The standard k‐ϵ turbulence model was used for the turbulent flow. Attention was focused on obtaining accurate solutions to the differential equations. It is concluded that some of the serious discrepancies that have occurred between prediction and observation, and attributed in earlier studies to the inadequacy of the turbulence model, may have been due to the inaccuracy of the solution.