Control of vortex shedding in an axisymmetric bluff body wake

In the present experimental study the effect of a control disc mounted at the rear of an axisymmetric blunt-based body of revolution, first studied by Mair, is investigated in the Reynolds number range 3×10³≤Re_D≤5×10⁴ . As the distance of the control disc from the blunt base is increased, four vortex shedding regimes are identified: at small distances there is no effect, then a sharp increase of vortex shedding activity and total drag is observed, followed by an interval with reduced activity and drag and finally at large distances a regime where the flow around the main body and disc become essentially independent, i.e. where the drag forces of the two elements become additive. The near and far wake velocity fields corresponding to the different regimes are documented with time- and phase-averaged hot-wire and LDA measurements, with spectral analysis of the data and with flow visualizations of the near wake. The results are used to develop an improved understanding of the instability mechanism leading to high vortex shedding activity.