Experimental Investigation of Flow Past a Square Cylinder at an Angle of Incidence
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 134, Issue 9
Abstract
Flow past a square cylinder placed at an angle to the incoming flow is experimentally investigated using particle image velocimetry, hot wire anemometry, and flow visualization. The Reynolds number based on cylinder size and the average incoming velocity is set equal to 410. Data for four cylinder orientations ( , 22.5, 30, and 45°) and two aspect ratios [ and 28] are reported. Results are presented in terms of drag coefficient, Strouhal number, time averaged velocity, stream traces, turbulence intensity, power spectra, and vorticity field. In addition, flow visualization images in the near wake of the cylinder are discussed. The shape and size of the recirculation bubble downstream of the cylinder are strong functions of orientation. A minimum in drag coefficient and maximum in Strouhal number is observed at a cylinder orientation of 22.5°. The -velocity profile and time-average stream traces show that the wake and the separation process are asymmetric at orientations of 22.5 and 30°. The corresponding power spectra show additional peaks related to secondary vortical structures that arise from nonlinear interaction between the Karman vortices. The flow visualization images show the streamwise separation distance between the alternating vortices to be a function of cylinder orientation. Further, the flow approaches three dimensionality early, i.e., closer to the cylinder surface for the 22.5° orientation. The drag coefficient decreases with an increase in aspect ratio, while the Strouhal number is seen to increase with aspect ratio. The turbulence intensity is higher for the large aspect ratio cylinder and the maximum turbulence intensity appears at an earlier streamwise location. The overall dependence of drag coefficient and Strouhal number on orientation is preserved for the two aspect ratios studied.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 134 • Issue 9 • September 2008
Pages: 788 - 803
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: May 22, 2007
Accepted: Feb 1, 2008
Published online: Sep 1, 2008
Published in print: Sep 2008
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Brett F. Sanders
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