Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Drag force control of flow over wavy cylinders at low reynolds number

  • Published:
Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Three-dimensional numerical simulations on the laminar flow around a circular cylinder with different diameter along the spanwise leading to a type of sinusoidal waviness, named wavy cylinder are performed at low Reynolds number. A series of wavy cylinders with different combinations of spanwise wavelength and wave amplitude are conducted at a Reynolds number of 100. The optimal range of wavelength and the effect of wave amplitude are obtained. The results show that the 3-D free shear layers from the cylinder are more difficult to roll up to vortex and hence the wake formation lengths of some typical wavy cylinders are larger than that of the circular cylinder and in some cases the free shear layers even do not roll up into vortex behind the cylinder. The mean drag coefficients of the typical wavy cylinders are less than that of a corresponding circular cylinder with the same mean diameter; also the fluctuating lift coefficients are reduced. The reduction of mean drag coefficient and fluctuating lift coefficient of wavy cylinder increases with the value of wavy amplitude. Furthermore, a typical wavy cylinder model at Re=150 is also simulated and found that the control of flow induced vibration by modifing the spanwise wavelength of cylinder has a relationship with the variation of Reynolds number.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmed, A. and Bays-Muchmore, B., 1992, “Transverse Flow over a wavy Cylinder,”Physics of fluids A 4, pp. 1959–1967.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmed, A., Khan, M. J. and Bays-Muchmore, B., 1993, “Experimental investigation of a Three-Dimensional Bluff-body wake,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 31, pp. 559–563.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bearman, P. W. and Owen, J. C, 1998, “Suppressing Vortex Shedding from Bluff Bodies by the Introduction of Wavy Separation Lines,”Proceedings of the 1998 ASME Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting, FED-Vol. 245, Session 191-09, FEDSM98-5190, Washington, D. C.

  • Darekar, R. M. and Sherwin, S. J., 2001, “Flow past a Square-section Cylinder with a Wavy Stagnation Face,”Journal of Fluids Mechanics Vol. 426, pp. 263–295.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, R. D., 1995, “Details of the Drag Curve near the Onset of Vortex Shedding,”Physics of Fluids, Vol. 7, pp. 2102–2104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lam, K., Wang, F. H., Li, J. Y. and So, R. M. C., 2004, “Experimental Investigation of the Mean and Fluctuating Forces of wavy (varicose) Cylinders in a Crossflow,”Journal of Fluids and Sturcutres, Vol. 19, pp. 321–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lam, K., Wang, F. H. and So, R. M. C., 2004, “Three-Dimensional Nature of Vortices in the Near Wake of a Wavy Cylinder,”Journal of Fluids and Structures, Vol. 19, pp. 815–833.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen, A. T. and Jee, S. J., 2004, “Experimental Investigation on Wake behind a Sinusoidal Cylinder,”Proceeding of Tenth Asian Congress of Fluid Mechanics, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

  • Owen, J. C. and Bearman, P. W., 2001, “Passive Control of VIV with Drag Reduction,”Journal of Fluids and Structures, Vol. 15, pp. 597–605.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owen, J. C., Szewczyk, A. A. and Bearman, P. W. 2000, “Suppression of Kármán Vortex Shedding,”Gallery of Fluid Motion. Physics of Fluids, Vol. 12, pp. 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, J., Kwon, K. and Choi, H., 1998, “Numerical Solutions of Flow Past a Circular Cylinder at Reynolds Number up to 160,”KSME International Journal, Vol. 12, p. 1200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharman, B., Lien, F.S, Davidson, L. and Norberg, C., 2005, “Numerical Predictions of Low Reynolds Number Flows over Two Tandem Circular Cylinders,”International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids, Vol. 47, pp. 423–447.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Tombazis, N. and Bearman, P. W., 1997. “A Study of Three-dimensional Aspects of Vortex Shedding from a Bluff Body with a Mild Geometric Disturbance.”Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 330, pp. 85–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williamson, C. H. K., 1989, “Oblique and Parallel Modes of Vortex Shedding in the wake of a Circular Cylinder at Low Reynolds Numbers,”Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 206, pp. 579–627.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, J. F. and Dalton, C, 1998, “A Three-Dimensional Simulation of a Steady Approach flow past a Circular Cylinder at Low Reynolds Number,”International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids, Vol. 26, pp. 1003–1022.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, W., Dai, C. and Lee, S. J., 2005, “PIV Measurements of the Near-wake behind a Sinusoidal Cylinder,”Experiments in Fluids, Vol. 38, pp. 824–832.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Horn, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    K. Lam & Y. F. Lin

Authors
  1. K. Lam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Y. F. Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Lam.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lam, K., Lin, Y.F. Drag force control of flow over wavy cylinders at low reynolds number. J Mech Sci Technol 21, 1331 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03177417

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03177417

Keywords

Search

Navigation