Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigation of scale effect for the computation of turbulent flow around a circular cylinder

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Acta Mechanica Sinica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In order to investigate the scale effect of turbulent flow around a circular cylinder, two similarity numbers (criteria) based on turbulent kinetic and dissipation rates associated with the fluctuation characteristics of turbulence wake are deduced by analyzing the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations (RANS). The RNG k-ɛ models and finite volume method are used to solve the governing equations and the second-order implicit time and upwind space discretization algorithms are used to discrete the governing equations. A numerical computation of flow parameters around a two-dimensional circular cylinder with Reynolds numbers ranging from 102 to 107 is accomplished and the result indicates that the fluctuation of turbulence flow along the center line in the wake of circular cylinder can never be changed with increasing Reynolds numbers when Re ⩾ 3 × 106. This conclusion is useful for controlling the scale of numerical calculations and for applying model test data to engineering practice.

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

  1. Singh, S.P., Mittal, S.: Flow past a cylinder: Shear layer instability and drag crisis. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids 47, 75–98 (2005)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  2. Catalano, P., Wang, M., Iaccarino, G., et al.: Numerical simulation of the flow around a circular cylinder at high Reynolds numbers. International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow 24, 463–469 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Ong, M.C., Utnes, T.: Numerical simulation of flow around a smooth circular cylinder at very high Reynolds numbers. Marine Structures 22, 142–153 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Kravchenkoa, A.G., Moin, P.: Numerical studies of flow over a circular cylinder at Re = 3 900. Physics of Fluids 12, 403–417 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Norberg, C.: Pressure forces on a circular cylinder in cross flow. In: Proc. of IUTAM Symposium Bluff-Body Wakes, Dynamics and Instabilities, Gottingen, Germany, 7–11 September 1992, Springer, Berlin, 275–278

  6. Cantwell, B., Coles, D.: An experimental study of entrainment and transport in the turbulent near wake of a circular cylinder. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 136, 321–374 (1983)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Warschauer, K.A., Leene, J.A.: Experiments on mean and fluctuating pressures of circular cylinders at cross flow at very high Reynolds numbers. In: Proceeding of the international Conference on Wind Effects on Buildings and Structures (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Roshko, A.: Perspectives on bluff body aerodynamics. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 49, 79–100 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Blackburn, H.M., Melbourne, W.H.: The effect of free-stream turbulence on sectional lift forces on a circular cylinder. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 306, 267–292 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Schewe, G.: On the force fluctuations acting on a circular cylinder in crossflow from subcritical up to transcritical Reynolds numbers. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 133, 265–285 (1983)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Fung, Y.C.: Fluctuating lift and drag acting on a cylinder in a flow at supercritical Reynolds numbers. Journal of the Aerospace Sciences 27, 801–814 (1960)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  12. Norberg, C.: Fluctuating lift on a circular cylinder: review and new measurements. Journal of Fluids and Structures. 17, 57–96 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Ong, L., Wallace, J.: The velocity field of the turbulent very near wake of a circular cylinder. Experiments in Fluids 20, 441–453 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Norberg, C.: LDV-measurements in the near wake of a circular cylinder. In: Proceedings of the ASME Conference on Advances in the Understanding of Bluff Body Wakes and Vortex Induced Vibration, Washington, DC, 21–25 June 1998, ASME, NewYork,1–12

  15. Parnaudeau, P., Carlier, J., Heitz, D., et al.: Experimental and numerical studies of the flow over a circular cylinder at Reynolds number 3 900. Physics of Fluids 20, 85–101 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Ünal, O., Atlar, M,, Gören, Ö: Effect of turbulence modelling on the computation of the near-wake flow of a circular cylinder. Ocean Engineering 37 87–399 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Achenbach, E.: Distribution of local pressure and skin friction around a circular cylinder in cross-flow up to Re = 5 × 106. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 34, 625–639 (1968)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis for Industrial Equipment, Dalian University of Technology, 116023, Dalian, China

    Lin Lin & Yan-Ying Wang

Authors
  1. Lin Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yan-Ying Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Lin Lin or Yan-Ying Wang.

Additional information

The project was supported by the National High-Tec Research and Development Program of China (2006AA09A104).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lin, L., Wang, YY. Investigation of scale effect for the computation of turbulent flow around a circular cylinder. Acta Mech Sin 29, 641–648 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10409-013-0078-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10409-013-0078-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation