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A visualization study of fluid-structure interaction between a circular cylinder and a channel bed

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Abstract

Flow visualization was used to study the fluid-structure interaction between a circular cylinder and a shallow turbulent open channel flow. The Reynolds number ranged from Re D = 1500–4400 based on the cylinder diameter, and from Re H =7,800−27,600 based on the channel hydraulic radius. The cylinder was mounted vertically on the channel bed and the flow depth-to-cylinder-diameter ratio was varied fromd/D=7.0−11.7. Tests were carried out over smooth and rough beds, with the rough beds being either permeable or impermeable. The study showed that the horseshoe vortex forming at the cylinder-bed junction affects many of the flow structures, including the mode of vortex shedding, the shear layer dynamics, the vortex formation length, and the width of the near-wake region. The influence of the horseshoe vortex can be recognized throughout the depth of flow; however, its influence decreases with an increase in distance from the channel bed. It was also possible to discern that the bed roughness resulted in a change to the above interaction and the permeability of the bed resulted in additional changes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, S7N 5A9, Saskatchewan, Canada

    Rao S. K. & Sumner D.

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Windsor, Essex Hall, 401 Sunset Avenue, N9B 3P4, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

    Balachandar R.

Authors
  1. Rao S. K.
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  2. Sumner D.
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  3. Balachandar R.
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Additional information

Sridhar K. Rao: He is a Part-Time Professor at St. Clair College, Windsor, Ontario. He received his M.Sc. (2003) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan.

David Sumner: He is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University. His research interests are in the fields of bluff-body aerodynamics, fluid-structure interactions, and unsteady flows.

Ram Balachandar: He is Head of the Department and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Windsor. He was formerly a Professor of Civil and Geological Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. His research interests are in the fields of hydraulic engineering, rough wall boundary layers, and flow past bluff bodies.

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Rao, S.K., Sumner, D. & Balachandar, R. A visualization study of fluid-structure interaction between a circular cylinder and a channel bed. J Vis 7, 187–199 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03181633

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03181633

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