Formation, evolution, and decay of a vortex street in the wake of a streamlined body

The decay of a Kármán vortex street and the formation of a secondary vortex structure in the far wake of a streamlined cylinder are studied. The dynamics of spatially evolving vortex structures is examined in the free flow and in the following ways of external influence on this flow: rotation with a constant velocity and translational and rotational oscillations of the cylinder. The results are obtained by numerically solving the Navier-Stokes equations with two different methods. The corresponding boundary value problems are formulated in the domains extended up to 500 radii of the cylinder.     

Time-resolved scanning tomography PIV measurements around a flapping wing

The three-dimensional flow that develops around a finite flapping wing is investigated using a tomographic scanning PIV technique. The acquisition and correlation processes employed to achieve such measurements have been carefully validated. Issues regarding the relevant timescales of the flow and the spanwise space-resolution are addressed. Results obtained on a hovering flapping wing whose plunging phase is described by a rectilinear motion highlight the influence of the free end condition and the formation of the tip vortex on the leading edge vortices behavior, wing/wake interactions, and wake stabilization.     

Experimental investigation of a circular radially deforming cylinder near wake using an infrared technique

The present experimental study aims at developing a method to control the circular cylinder near wake by radial deformation and understand the underlying physics. Using an infra-red camera, we examine the temperature distribution of the near wake center line of a sinusoidal law radially deforming circular cylinder. From these measurements, the near wake is characterized by the length of the recirculation zone, the vortex formation zone length, the temperature fluctuation maximum intensity and the vortex street shedding frequency. For several deformations frequencies, we study the radial deformation influence on the near wake characteristics. It is noted that the wake structure is strongly affected by the deformation frequency. Among other things, we note the recirculation zone length reduction and the vortex formation zone length reduction when the radial vibrations are close to the “Lock-in” fundamental range. It is also noted that the variations of the vortex shedding frequency depend on the deformation frequency.     

单窄条控制件对横向振荡柱体尾流 2P模式 旋涡脱落的改变

横向强迫振荡柱体尾流控制是柱体涡激振动控制的基础,在海洋、土木等工程中具有重要意义. 横向强迫振荡柱体尾流中存在一种锁频旋涡脱落模式,即在一个振荡周期内柱体上、下侧各脱落旋转方向相反的一对涡,称为2P模式. 本文将相对宽度b/D=0.32的窄条控制件置于横向强迫振荡柱体下游,对振幅比A/D=1.25, 无量纲振频f_e D/V_∞=0.22,雷诺数Re=1 200的2P模式旋涡脱落进行干扰,并通过改变控制件位置,研究旋涡的变化规律. 采用二维大涡模拟和实验验证方法进行研究,在控制件位置范围0.8≤X/D≤3.2, 0.4≤Y/D≤3.2内,得到了2P, 2S, P+S和另外6种新发现的旋涡脱落模式,并对各模式旋涡的形成过程作了详细描述. 在控制件位置平面上给出了各旋涡模式的存在区域,画出了旋涡脱落强度的等值线图,并发现在一个相当大的区域内,旋涡脱落强 度可减小一半以上,尾流变窄. 发现柱体大幅振荡引起的横向剪切流在旋涡生成中起关键作用. 探讨了控制件对横向剪切流的影响,分析了控制件在每种旋涡模式形成中的作用机制.      

Numerical Study of the Flow Behind a Rotary Oscillating Circular Cylinder

A numerical study is performed of flow behind a rotationally oscillating circular cylinder in a uniform flow by solving the two-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The flow behavior in lock-on regime and the timing of vortex formation from the oscillating cylinder are studied. When the frequency of excitation of the cylinder is in the vicinity of the natural vortex formation frequency, a lock-on vortex formation regime appears. As the excitation frequency being increased relative to the natural frequency the initially formed vorticity concentration switches to the opposite side of the cylinder. The effects of oscillating frequency and amplitude on the vortex structures formed in the near wake of the cylinder are also investigated. Based on the present calculated results, some complicated vortex patterns are identified and are consistent with the previous experimental visualizations.     

水下发射航行体尾涡不稳定性分析

在水下连续发射过程中前一发航行体尾流会对后一发航行体运动姿态稳定性产生流动干扰现象. 因此, 研究尾流中涡旋结构演变机理对解决多弹体水下连续发射流动干扰难题具有重要的意义. 本文采用改进型分离涡模型与能量方程, VOF多相流模型与重叠网格技术相结合方法, 对航行体水下发射尾流演变过程开展精细化模拟研究, 其中模拟结果和实验吻合度较好, 验证了本文数值方法的有效性. 以航行体尾流区域为重点研究对象, 分析了尾流区瞬态流场分布, 讨论了横流强度和雷诺数对尾涡结构演变以及脉动压力分布特性的影响. 结果表明: 由于尾流区高速流体核心区与低速自由流相互作用导致Kelvin-Helmholtz不稳定现象出现, 可以清晰地发现涡旋结构在剪切力的作用下发生脱落. 在横流条件下, 航行体尾端脱落的涡环与涡腿形成发卡涡, 而多个发卡涡沿轴向间隔排列组成发卡涡包存在于尾流中. 随着横流强度增大, 形成多级发卡涡包结构, 而导致脉动压力二次峰值均出现的主要原因是尾流涡旋流场演变引起的. 随着雷诺数的增大, 尾流中由圆柱形涡和U型涡组成的二次涡结构逐渐明显, 不稳定性加强.      

Numerical study on wake characteristics of high-speed trains

Intensive turbulence exists in the wakes of high speed trains, and the aerodynamic performance of the trailing car could deteriorate rapidly due to complicated features of the vortices in the wake zone. As a result, the safety and amenity of high speed trains would face a great challenge. This paper considers mainly the mechanism of vortex formation and evolution in the train flow field. A real CRH2 model is studied, with a leading car, a middle car and a trailing car included. Different running speeds and cross wind conditions are considered, and the approaches of un- steady Reynold-averaged Navier-Stokes （URANS） and de- tached eddy simulation （DES） are utilized, respectively. Re- suits reveal that DES has better capability of capturing small eddies compared to URANS. However, for large eddies, the effects of two approaches are almost the same. In conditions without cross winds, two large vortex streets stretch from the train nose and interact strongly with each other in the wake zone. With the reinforcement of the ground, a complicated wake vortex system generates and becomes strengthened as the running speed increases. However, the locations of flow separations on the train surface and the separation mechanism keep unchanged. In conditions with cross winds, three large vortices develop along the leeward side of the train, among which the weakest one has no obvious influence on the wake flow while the other two stretch to the tail of the train and combine with the helical vortices in the train wake. Thus, optimization of the aerodynamic performance of the trailing car should be aiming at reducing the intensity of the wake vortex system.     

Effect of vortex shedding in unsteady aerodynamic forces for a low Reynolds number stationary wing at low angle of attack

This study elucidates the relation between wake vortex shedding and aerodynamic force fluctuations for a low Reynolds number wing from time resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV) experimental measurements. The results reveal a periodic lift and drag variation within the shedding cycle and resolve the frequencies of those fluctuations from a proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and power spectral density (PSD) analysis. To show the effect of vortex shedding on the body force fluctuations, the evolution of instantaneous aerodynamic forces is compared to the pressure field of the fluid flow and to the vortical structures in the wake of the airfoil. A six step model describing the vortex-force relation is proposed. It shows that changes in lift such as maximum lift and minimum lift are associated with the detachment of a vortex. It also shows that the minimum or local minimum drag value is obtained at the onset formation of a vortex on the airfoil wake. Similarly, the maximum or local maximum drag is obtained at the onset formation of the saddle on the airfoil wake. The model further explains the asymmetry observed in the unsteady drag force evolution. The model can be used to optimize flow control and fluid-structure interaction applications.     

Combined action of transverse oscillations and uniform cross-flow on vortex formation and pattern of a circular cylinder

This paper attempts to study the roles of lateral cylinder oscillations and a uniform cross-flow in the vortex formation and wake modes of an oscillating circular cylinder. A circular cylinder is given lateral oscillations of varying amplitudes (between 0.28 and 1.42 cylinder-diameters) in a slow uniform flow stream (Reynolds number=284) to produce the 2S, 2P and P+S wake modes. Detailed flow information is obtained with time-resolved particle-image velocimetry and the phase-locked averaging techniques. In the 2S and 2P mode, the flow speeds relative to the cylinder movement are less than the uniform flow velocity and it is found that initial formation of a vortex is caused by shear-layer separation of the uniform flow on the cylinder. Subsequent development of the shear-layer vortices is affected by the lateral cylinder movement. At small cylinder oscillation amplitudes, vortices are shed in synchronization with the cylinder movement, resulting in the 2S mode. The 2P mode occurs at larger cylinder oscillation amplitudes at which each shear-layer vortex is found to undergo intense stretching and eventual bifurcation into two separate vortices. The P+S mode occurs when the cylinder moving speeds are, for most of the time, higher than the speed of the uniform flow. These situations are found at fast and large-amplitude cylinder oscillations in which the flow relative to the cylinder movement takes over the uniform flow in governing the initial vortex formation. The formation stages of vortices from the cylinder are found to bear close resemblance to those of a vortex street pattern of a cylinder oscillating in an otherwise quiescent fluid at Keulegan–Carpenter numbers around 16. Vortices in the inclined vortex street pattern so formed are then convected downstream by the uniform flow as the vortex pairs in the 2P mode.     

Mechanisms of wake deflection angle change behind a heaving airfoil

An immersed-boundary numerical method is applied to simulate the wake downstream of a two-dimensional heaving airfoil. A switch of vortex pattern is found to be the major reason that a deflected asymmetric wake reverses its deflection angle. Parameters of the heaving airfoil and flow that influence the onset and location of the vortex switching are discussed. While the previous literature deliberately discussed the wake deflection in the near wake region, this study shows that the deflection angle can change from the near wake to far wake regions. A cross-flow effective phase velocity is introduced to analyze the already-formed asymmetric wake behind the airfoil. A vortex dipole model and the related vortex dynamics analysis are developed to show that the change of the distance between the vortices is the primary factor that leads to the vortex pattern switching in the far wake.     

Modes of vortex formation and transition to three-dimensionality in the wake of a freely vibrating cylinder

The present work is aimed to give some insight into the relation between vortex shedding modes and transition to three-dimensionality in the wake of a freely vibrating cylinder by establishing a numerical model and analyzing the relevant results of two- and three-dimensional simulations. The compressible flow past an elastically-mounted cylinder is solved by using the immersed boundary method (IB method). The cylinder is free to vibrate in the transverse direction with zero structure damping. The response of displacement amplitude is studied with the variation of reduced velocity. Whether P+S mode exists in three-dimensional flow and the occurrence of 2P mode is caused by flow transition from two-dimensional to three-dimensional are problems of concern. Both 2P and P+S wake modes are observed in two- and three-dimensional simulations. The numerical results indicate that the flow transition from two-dimensional to three-dimensional is coupled with the cylinder vibration in the synchronization/lock-in regime. The wake formation given by three-dimensional simulations suggests that the P+S mode might exist in reality when the flow is reverted to two-dimensional by vortex induced vibration (VIV) at Re=300–350. When Reynolds number increases to 425, the wake formation undergoes transition to three-dimensionality and 2P mode is observed. The effect of mass ratio on the flow transition to three-dimensionality is studied. The relationship between wake modes and aerodynamic forces is discussed.     

Flow past a sphere in density-stratified fluid

Stratified flow past a three-dimensional obstacle such as a sphere has been a long-lasting subject of geophysical, environmental and engineering fluid dynamics. In order to investigate the effect of the stratification on the near wake, in particular, the unsteady vortex formation behind a sphere, numerical simulations of stratified flows past a sphere are conducted. The time-dependent Navier–Stokes equations are solved using a three-dimensional finite element method and a modified explicit time integration scheme. Laminar flow regime is considered, and linear stratification of density is assumed under Boussinesq approximation. The effects of stratification is implemented by density transport without diffusion. The computed results include the characteristics of the near wake as well as the effects of stratification on the separation angle. Under increased stratification, the separation on the sphere is suppressed and the wake structure behind the sphere becomes planar, resembling that behind a vertical cylinder. With further increase in stratification, the wake becomes unsteady, and consists of planar vortex shedding similar to von Karman vortex streets.     

Vortex shedding and structural loading characteristics of finned cylinders

The flow development and structural loading characteristics of cylinders with equispaced circular fins were studied experimentally for a range of fin pitches with constant fin thickness and diameter. The experiments were performed for a range of Reynolds numbers, corresponding to the shear layer transition turbulent shedding regime. Time-resolved planar Particle Image Velocimetry and direct mean drag and fluctuating lift measurements are employed to relate spatio-temporal flow development to structural loading. The results show that wake development is dominated by vortex shedding for all the cases examined. However, the fin pitch ratio has a significant effect on vortex shedding characteristics. The addition of fins increases the characteristic spatial and temporal scales of the main spanwise vortices forming in the near wake. As the fin pitch is decreased to a critical value, the coalescence of boundary layers between the adjacent fins leads to a significant enlargement of the vortex formation region. A modified vortex shedding frequency scaling is proposed, based on the effective diameter, that incorporates a Reynolds number dependence associated with the lateral boundary layers developing on the fin surfaces. A detailed analysis is conducted to characterize the strength of the vortical structures forming in the near wake. The addition of the fins is shown to produce a stabilizing effect on the roll-up process, associated with a reduction in the generation of smaller scale, three-dimensional structures. The results demonstrate that the addition of fins leads to an increase in the mean drag, which is driven primarily by the associated increase in skin friction. The significant effect of the fin pitch ratio on the characteristics of the shed vortices as well as the size of the vortex formation region is shown to lead to substantial variations in the fluctuating loads.     

Flow above the free end of a surface-mounted finite-height circular cylinder: A review

The wake of a surface-mounted finite-height circular cylinder and the associated vortex patterns are strongly dependent on the cylinder aspect ratio and the thickness of the boundary layer on the ground plane relative to the dimensions of the cylinder. Above a critical aspect ratio, the mean wake is characterized by streamwise tip vortex structures and Kármán vortex shedding from the sides of the cylinder. Below a critical aspect ratio, a unique mean wake structure is observed. Recent experimental studies in the literature that used phase-averaged techniques, as well as recent numerical simulations, have led to an improved physical understanding of the near-wake vortex flow patterns. However, the flow above the free end of the finite circular cylinder, and its relationship to the near wake, has not been systematically studied. The effects of aspect ratio and boundary layer thickness on the free-end flow field are also not completely understood, nor has the influence of Reynolds number on the free-end flow field been fully explored. Common features associated with the free end include separation from the leading edge, a mean recirculation zone containing a prominent cross-stream arch (or mushroom) vortex, and reattachment onto the free-surface. Other flow features that remain to be clarified include a separation bubble near the leading edge, one or two cross-stream vortices within this separation bubble, the origins of the streamwise tip or trailing vortices, and various critical points in the near-surface flow topology. This paper reviews the current understanding of the flow above the free end of a surface-mounted finite-height circular cylinder, with a focus on models of the flow field, surface oil flow visualization studies, pressure and heat flux distributions on the free-end surface, measurements of the local velocity field, and numerical simulations, found in the literature.     

Hydrodynamic instability of separated viscous flow around a circular cylinder

A uniform viscous flow around a circular cylinder is studied numerically in the Reynolds number range from 0 to 500. It is shown that the existence and the basic properties of self-oscillating regimes are specified by the evolution of their hydrodynamic instability. It is found that the vortex formation in a near wake is associated with the separation zone dynamics in the main flow. The values of critical Reynolds numbers for the four successive bifurcations of the self-oscillating regimes of flow are obtained. An interpretation of experimental data on the vortices in the near wake is discussed.     

FEEDBACK CONTROL OF VORTEX SHEDDING FROM A CIRCULAR CYLINDER BY ROTATIONAL OSCILLATIONS

The present paper describes a new active method for controlling vortex shedding from a circular cylinder in a uniform flow at medium Reynolds numbers. It uses rotary cylinder oscillations controlled by the feedback signal of a reference velocity in the cylinder wake. The effectiveness of this feedback control is evaluated by measuring the response of mean and fluctuating velocities in the cylinder wake, the spanwise correlation, the power spectrum, and the fluid forces acting on the cylinder. It is found that the velocity fluctuations and the fluid forces are both reduced by the feedback control with optimum values of the phase lag and feedback gain. The simultaneous flow visualization synchronized with the cylinder oscillation indicates the attenuation as well as the mechanisms of vortex shedding under the feedback control, which is due to the dynamic effect of cylinder oscillation on the vortex formation.     

Asymmetric vortex shedding flow past an inclined flat plate at high incidence

This paper reports an experimental investigation of the vortex shedding wake behind a long flat plate inclined at a small angle of attack to a main flow stream. Detailed velocity fields are obtained with particle-image velocimetry (PIV) at successive phases in a vortex shedding cycle at three angles of attack, α=20°, 25° and 30°, at a Reynolds number Re≈5,300. Coherent patterns and dynamics of the vortices in the wake are revealed by the phase-averaged PIV vectors and derived turbulent properties. A vortex street pattern comprising a train of leading edge vortices alternating with a train of trailing edge vortices is found in the wake. The trailing edge vortex is shed directly from the sharp trailing edge while there are evidences that the formation and shedding of the leading edge vortex involve a more complicated mechanism. The leading edge vortex seems to be shed into the wake from an axial location near the trailing edge. After shedding, the vortices are convected downstream in the wake with a convection speed roughly equal to 0.8 the free-stream velocity. On reaching the same axial location, the trailing edge vortex, as compared to the leading edge vortex, is found to possess a higher peak vorticity level at its centre and induce more intense fluid circulation and Reynolds stresses production around it. It is found that the results at the three angles of attack can be collapsed into similar trends by using the projected plate width as the characteristic length of the flow.     

Vortex dynamics of a sphere wake in proximity to a wall

Toward getting the vortex dynamics characteristics and wake structure of a sphere in proximity to a wall, the effect of a proximal flat plate on the wake of a stationary sphere is investigated via direct numerical simulation. The vortex shedding process and the significant variation of the wake structure are described in detail. The drag coefficient reduces and the wake structure of the sphere becomes complex due to the combined effect of the wake flow and the wall. A jet flow forms between the sphere and the flat plate, which suppresses the vortex separation on the bottom of the sphere. The asymmetric distributions of the coherent structures and the recirculation region behind the sphere are discussed. Besides vortex shedding patterns, the time-averaged velocity distribution, vortex dynamics, distribution regularities of turbulent kinetic energy and enstrophy are investigated.     

虚拟边界法研究正交双圆柱及串列双圆球绕流

把Goldstein等人提出的虚拟边界法推广到三维情况,研究了 Re=150时不同间距下正交双圆柱绕流,和Re=250时不同间距下串列双 圆球绕流流场. 对于正交双圆柱绕流,当间距比大于3,下游圆柱对上游圆柱尾流的影响只 限定在下游圆柱的尾流所扫过的范围之内;当间距比小于等于3,下游圆柱对上游圆柱尾流 的影响扩大,下游圆柱尾流扫过区上下出现两排三维流向二次涡结构. 对于串列圆球绕流, 研究发现,在小间距比(L/D≈ 1.5)的情况下,由于上下游圆球尾流区的相互抑 制消除了压力不稳定性,整个流场呈现稳 态轴对称特征;间距比为2.0时,周向压力梯度诱发出流体的周向输运,流场呈现稳态非对 称性,但流场中存在特定的对称面;间距比增大到2.5后,绕流场开始周期振荡,原有的对 称面依旧存在;在间距比3.5时下游圆球下表面的涡结构强度有所减弱,导致占优频率发生 交替;间距比增至7.0时,整个流场恢复稳态特征,两圆球尾部同时出现双线涡,这时流场 对称面的位置发生了变动.     

Vortex formation mechanisms in the wake behind a sphere for 200 < Re < 380

Direct numerical simulation and visualization of three-dimensional separated flows of a homogeneous incompressible viscous fluid are used to comprehensively describe different mechanisms of vortex formation behind a sphere at moderate Reynolds numbers (200 ≤ Re ≤ 380). For 200 < Re ≤ 270 a steady-state rectilinear double-filament wake is formed, while for Re > 270 it is a chain of vortex loops. The three unsteady periodic flow patterns corresponding to the 270 < Re ≤ 290, 290 < Re ≤ 320, and 320 < Re ≤ 380 ranges are characterized by different vortex formation mechanisms. Direct numerical simulation is based on the Meranzh (SMIF) method of splitting in physical factors with an explicit hybrid finite-difference scheme which possesses the following properties: secondorder approximation in the spatial variables, minimal scheme viscosity and dispersion, and monotonicity. Two different vortex identification techniques are used for visualizing the vortex structures within the wake.