Multi-dimensional simulations of turbulent flow in a pulse combustor tail pipe were performed using the methodology of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. The flow in a pulse combustor tail pipe is complicated by periodic reversals amid large rates of convective heat transfer from the walls. The performance and limitations of two conventional quasi-steady near-wall turbulence models in predicting the wall heat transfer are presented. Within the context of a CFD-methodology, a flow-based near-wall turbulence model is proposed. Its capability for predicting heat transfer under oscillatory flow conditions is discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.