Aerodynamic flow vectoring of a wake using asymmetric synthetic jet actuation

This paper reports an experimental investigation on the wake of a blunt-based, flat plate subjected to aerodynamic flow vectoring using asymmetric synthetic jet actuation. Wake vectoring was achieved using a synthetic jet placed at the model base 2.5?mm from the upper corner. The wake Reynolds number based on the plate thickness was 7,200. The synthetic jet actuation frequency was selected to be about 75?% the vortex shedding frequency of the natural wake. At this actuation frequency, the synthetic jet delivered a periodic flow with a momentum coefficient, C _??, of up to 62?%. Simultaneous measurements of the streamwise and transverse components of the velocity were performed using particle image velocimetry (PIV) in the near wake. The results suggested that for significant wake vectoring, vortex shedding must be suppressed first. Under the flow conditions cited above, C _?? values in the range of 10?C20?% were required. The wake vectoring angle seemed to asymptote to a constant value of about 30° at downstream distances, x/h, larger than 4 for C _?? values ranging between 24 and 64?%. The phase-averaged vorticity contours and the phase-averaged normal lift force showed that most of the wake vectoring is produced during the suction phase of the actuation, while the blowing phase was mostly responsible for vortex shedding suppression.     

Control of two-degree-of-freedom vortex-induced vibrations of a circular cylinder using a pair of synthetic jets at low Reynolds number: Influence of position angle and momentum coefficient

In order to understand the effects of synthetic jets on the active control of two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) vortex-induced vibrations (VIVs) of a circular cylinder, a series of numerical simulation were carried out at Reynolds number of 150. The synthetic jet excitation frequency was fixed at five times of the natural frequency of the cylinder in still water. The influence of two key parameters of synthetic jets, the position angle (α) and the momentum coefficient (Cu), on 2DOF VIVs was analyzed. Results indicated that both in-flow oscillation and cross-flow oscillation can be suppressed when the synthetic jets with sufficient momentum coefficient were positioned at the circular cylinder's leeward side (0° ≤ α ≤ 75°). When Cu = 4, 15° ≤ α ≤ 60°, the reductions of cross-flow and in-flow oscillation amplitudes were all larger than 99% and 70%, respectively. Besides, the in-flow oscillation frequency was locked-in to the excitation frequency of synthetic jets when the in-flow oscillation was effectively suppressed. A symmetric wake can be observed when the cross-flow oscillation was completely suppressed, and the 2P+2S vortex pattern can be observed when Cu = 4, α =165° and 180°.     

Feedback control of vortex shedding from two tandem cylinders

The effect of feedback control on vortex shedding from two tandem cylinders in cross-flow is investigated experimentally. The objective is to reduce the downstream cylinder response to vortex shedding and turbulence excitations. Feedback control is applied to a resonant case, where the frequency of vortex shedding coincides with the resonance frequency of the downstream cylinder, and to a nonresonant case, in which the shedding frequency is about 30% higher than the downstream cylinder resonance frequency. A “synthetic jet” issuing through a narrow slit on the upstream cylinder is employed to impart the control effect to the flow. The effect of open-loop control, using pure tones and white noise to activate the synthetic jet, is also examined. It is demonstrated that feedback control can significantly reduce the downstream cylinder response to both vortex shedding and turbulence excitations. For example, the cylinder response is reduced by up to 70% in the resonant case and 75% in the nonresonant case. Open-loop control also can reduce the cylinder response, but is less effective than feedback control. The frequency of vortex shedding is found to increase substantially when white noise is applied. This increase in the shedding frequency is higher than the largest frequency shift that could be produced by open-loop tone excitation.     

Induced parallel vortex shedding from a circular cylinder at Re of O(10) by using the cylinder end suction technique

In the present work, the objective is to attempt to induce parallel vortex shedding at a moderately high Reynolds number (=1.578 × 10⁴) by using the cylinder end suction method, and measure the associated aerodynamic parameters.We first measured the aerodynamic parameters of a single circular cylinder without end suction, and showed that the quantities measured are in good agreement with equivalent data in the published literature. Next, by using different amount of end suction which resulted in increasing the cylinder end velocity by 1%, 2% and 2.5%, we were able to show that the above corresponded to the situation of under suction, optimal suction and over suction, respectively. With optimal suction, we demonstrated that the end suction method works at Re = 1.578 × 10⁴. The shape of the primary vortex shed became straighter than when there is no end suction, and parameters like cylinder surface pressure distribution, drag force per unit span, as well as vortex shedding frequency all showed negligible spanwise variation. Further careful analyses showed that when compared to the naturally existing curved vortex shedding, with parallel vortex shedding the mid-span drag per unit span became slightly smaller, but the drag averaged over the cylinder span became slightly larger. For cylinder surface pressure, it was found that cylinder end effects mainly influenced the surface pressure in the angular ranges −180°  β < −60° and 60° < β  180°. Without end suction, the cylinder surface pressure in the above ranges was found to increase (become less negative) slightly with |z/d|, but such increase disappeared when optimal end suction was applied, and the cylinder surface pressure distribution became spanwise location independent. As for the vortex shedding frequency (Strouhal number), although the Strouhal number showed spanwise variation when there is no end suction and negligible spanwise variation when optimal suction was applied, the difference between the spanwise averaged Strouhal number was quite negligible. With under suction, the spanwise dependence of various aerodynamic parameters existed, but was found to be not as significant as when no end suction was applied at all. With over suction, the flow situation was found to be practically no change from the optimal suction situation.     

Modification of the near wake behind a finite-span cylinder by a single synthetic jet

Modification to the flow field about a finite-span cylinder of low-aspect ratio (AR = 3) by a single synthetic jet, mounted normal to the cylinder axis, was studied experimentally using surface-mounted pressure taps, stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV), and constant-temperature anemometry. The synthetic jet altered the circulation about the cylinder and created a large spanwise change to the surface pressure, much greater than the dimensions of its orifice. SPIV measurements in the near wake showed that the synthetic jet enhances mixing of the downwash from the cylinder free end with the wake deficit, vectoring and narrowing the wake. The synthetic jet penetrates through the streamwise vorticity, enhancing mixing within the wake and reducing the power associated with the shedding frequency, St = 0.155, except below the vortex dislocation, where the shedding frequency was increased to that corresponding to a quasi-two-dimensional cylinder, St = 0.22.     

Symmetric vortex shedding in the near wake of a circular cylinder due to streamwise perturbations

Symmetric perturbations imposed on cylinder wakes may result in a modification of the vortex shedding mode from its natural antisymmetric, or alternating, to a symmetric one where twin vortices are simultaneously shed from both sides of the cylinder. In this paper, the symmetric mode in the wake of a circular cylinder is induced by periodic perturbations imposed on the in-flow velocity. The wake field is examined by PIV and LDV for Reynolds numbers about 1200 and for a range of perturbation frequencies between three and four times the natural shedding frequency of the unperturbed wake. In this range, a strong competition between symmetric and antisymmetric vortex shedding occurs for the perturbation amplitudes employed. The results show that symmetric formation of twin vortices occurs close to the cylinder synchronized with the oscillatory component of the flow. The symmetric mode rapidly breaks down and gives rise to an antisymmetric arrangement of vortex structures further downstream. The downstream wake may or may not be phase-locked to the imposed oscillation. The number of cycles for which the symmetric vortices persist in the near wake is a probabilistic function of the perturbation frequency and amplitude. Finally, it is shown that symmetric shedding is associated with positive energy transfer from the fluid to the cylinder due to the fluctuating drag.     

On vortex shedding from low aspect ratio dual step cylinders

A dual-step cylinder is comprised of two cylinders of different diameters. A large diameter cylinder (D) with low aspect ratio (L/D) is attached to the mid-span of a small diameter cylinder (d). The present study investigates the effect of Reynolds number (Re_D) and L/D on dual step cylinder wake development for D/d=2, 0.2≤L/D≤3, and two Reynolds numbers, Re_D=1050 and 2100. Experiments have been performed in a water flume facility utilizing flow visualization, Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV), and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). The results show that vortex shedding occurs from both the large and small diameter cylinders for 1≤L/D≤3 at Re_D=2100 and 2≤L/D≤3 at Re_D=1050. At these conditions, large cylinder vortices predominantly form vortex loops in the wake and small cylinder vortices form half-loop vortex connections. At lower aspect ratios, vortex shedding from the large cylinder ceases, with the dominant frequency in the large cylinder wake attributed to the passage of vortex filaments connecting small cylinder vortices. At these lower aspect ratios, the presence of the large cylinder induces periodic vortex dislocations. Increasing L/D increases the frequency of occurrence of vortex dislocations and decreases the dominant frequency in the large cylinder wake. The identified changes in wake topology are related to substantial variations in the location of boundary layer separation on the large cylinder, and, consequently, changes in the size of the vortex formation region. The results also show that the Reynolds number has a substantial effect on wake vortex shedding frequency, which is more profound than that expected for a uniform cylinder.     

Suppression of lift fluctuations on a circular cylinder by inducing the symmetric vortex shedding mode

The flow around a stationary circular cylinder modified by two synthetic jets positioned at the mean separation points is numerically studied. The Reynolds number based on the free-stream velocity and the circular cylinder diameter is Re=500. The focus is to present a novel way to suppress the lift fluctuations by changing the vortex shedding mode, and thus particular attention is paid to the interactions between the synthetic jets and wake shear layers and the resulting vortex dynamics. The overall influences of both momentum coefficient and excitation frequency are discussed. In some simulated cases, the vortex lock-on phenomenon is discovered, which causes the typical Kàrmàn type vortex shedding to be converted into the symmetric shedding modes, leading to the complete suppression of lift fluctuations. In other cases, the asymmetric shedding mode still dominates the wake evolution. Detailed vortical evolution for each typical wake pattern is analyzed to reveal the control mechanism. Additionally, the control effectiveness is evaluated, indicating that the present control strategy contributes an effective way to suppress the lift fluctuations and reduce the mean drag.     

Synthetic jet control of separation in the flow over a circular cylinder

A synthetic jet generated by a non-sinusoidal waveform is used to control flow separation around a circular cylinder at Reynolds number 950. The synthetic jet is positioned at the rear stagnation point. The suction duty cycle factor defined as the ratio of the time duration of the suction cycle to the blowing cycle is introduced as the determining parameter. Increasing the suction duty cycle factor, the exit velocity and entrainment effect of the synthetic jet are enhanced, flow separation is delayed, and drag reduction by up to 29?% is achieved. Different mechanisms for separation control during both the blowing cycle and the suction cycle have been revealed. It is suggested that a better control effect can be obtained during the blowing cycle.     

Numerical investigation of steady suction control of flow around a circular cylinder

This paper numerically investigates the effectiveness of the control of steady suction on a stationary circular cylinder with several isolated suction holes on the surface at a subcritical Reynolds number. The control effectiveness as a function of the azimuthal position, spanwise spacing and suction flow rate of the suction holes on the control of the aerodynamic forces on the cylinder and the suppression of alternate vortex shedding are taken into account. The study of the azimuthal location of the suction holes indicates that azimuthal angles of θ=90° and 270°, which are close to the separation point, provide the most substantial decreases in the aerodynamic forces. When restricted to the most effective azimuthal angle, a remarkable control effectiveness can be achieved when the axial spacing between two neighboring suction holes is less than a minimum value even under a small suction momentum coefficient. However, if the axial spacing exceeds the minimum spacing, the control effectiveness will not be saturated even under a very large suction momentum coefficient. Thus, the cause of the effective aerodynamic force control is suggested to be a result of obvious three-dimensional phenomenon in the near wake, which is characterized by the generation of a convergent flow between two neighboring suction hole sections and a stronger, larger three-dimensional vortex pair adjacent to the convergent flow. It has been suggested that this strongly three-dimensional flow pattern is induced by the strong interaction between two neighboring but counter-rotating three-dimensional vortices separately produced by two neighboring suction holes. Moreover, the effects of such three-dimensional flow patterns are investigated in detail based on variations in the flow field and sectional aerodynamic forces in different cross sections. Finally, the upper limit of the axial spacing between two neighboring suction holes to form such a three-dimensional flow pattern is suggested to be between 0.75 D and 1.5 D when the suction flow rate exceeds a certain value.     

Passive control of wake flow by two small control cylinders at Reynolds number 80

Passive control of the wake behind a circular cylinder in uniform flow is studied by numerical simulation at Re_D=80. Two small control cylinders are placed symmetrically along the separating shear layers at various stream locations. In the present study, the detailed flow mechanisms that lead to a significant reduction in the fluctuating lift but maintain the shedding vortex street are clearly revealed. When the stream locations lie within 0.8≤X_C/D≤3.0, the alternate shedding vortex street remains behind the control cylinders. In this case, the symmetric standing eddies immediately behind the main cylinder and the downstream delay of the shedding vortex street are the two primary mechanisms that lead to a 70–80% reduction of the fluctuating lift on the main cylinder. Furthermore, the total drag of all the cylinders still has a maximum 5% reduction. This benefit is primarily attributed to the significant reduction of the pressure drag on the main cylinder. Within X_C/D>3.0, the symmetry of the standing eddy breaks down and the staggered vortex street is similar to that behind a single cylinder at the same Reynolds number. In the latter case, the mean pressure drag and the fluctuating lift coefficients on the main cylinder will recover to the values of a single cylinder.     

Effects of Synthetic jets on a D-Shaped Cylinder wake at a Subcritical Reynolds Number

Effects of synthetic jets on the wake of a D-shaped cylinder is investigated experimentally at a Reynolds number Re_H= 47,000, based on incoming free-stream velocity and the cylinder height (H). The synthetic jets are introduced immediately from the upper and lower trailing edges of the cylinder. The upper and lower synthetic jets are operated in an in-phase or anti-phase mode, and at a momentum ratio C_μ= 1.0% and perturbation frequency St_A= 0.11 ?0.37. The cylinder wake with perturbation is examined in detail and compared with that without, based on smoke-wire flow visualization, pressure transducer and hotwire rake measurements, and data analyses of spectra, tempo-spatial cross-correlation and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). Large-scale vortical structures in the cylinder wake are significantly modified by the synthetic jets perturbations, exhibiting symmetric or asymmetric patterns, depending on the perturbation frequency and phase relationship of the synthetic jets. These observations are internally correlated with the drag force variations.     

Effect of perforation on flow past a conic cylinder at <Emphasis Type="Italic">Re</Emphasis> = 100: vortex-shedding pattern and force history

The flow past a circular-section cylinder with a conic shroud perforated with four holes at the peak was simulated numerically at \(Re=100\), considering two factors, viz. the angle of attack and the diameter of the holes. The effects of the perforated conic shroud on the vortex shedding pattern in the near wake was mainly investigated, as well as the time history of the drag and lift forces. In the investigated parameter space, three flow regimes were generally identified, corresponding to weak, moderate, and strong disturbance effects. In regime I, the wake can mainly be described by alternately shedding Kármán or Kármán-like vortices. In regime II, the spanwise vortices are obviously disturbed along the span due to the appearance of additional vorticity components and their interactions with the spanwise vortices, but still shed in synchronization along the spanwise direction. In regime III, the typical Kármán vortices partially or totally disappear, and some new vortex shedding patterns appear, such as \(\Omega \)-type, obliquely shedding, and crossed spanwise vortices with opposite sign. Corresponding to these complex vortex shedding patterns in the near wake, the fluid forces no longer oscillate regularly at a single vortex shedding frequency, but rather with a lower modulation frequency and multiple amplitudes. An overview of these flow regimes is presented.     

Numerical analysis of unsteady cavitating turbulent flow and shedding horse-shoe vortex structure around a twisted hydrofoil

Cavitating turbulent flow around hydrofoils was simulated using the Partially-Averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) method and a mass transfer cavitation model with the maximum density ratio (ρ_l/ρ_v,clip) effect between the liquid and the vapor. The predicted cavity length and thickness of stable cavities as well as the pressure distribution along the suction surface of a NACA66(MOD) hydrofoil compare well with experimental data when using the actual maximum density ratio (ρ_l/ρ_v,clip = 43391) at room temperature. The unsteady cavitation patterns and their evolution around a Delft twisted hydrofoil were then simulated. The numerical results indicate that the cavity volume fluctuates dramatically as the cavitating flow develops with cavity growth, destabilization, and collapse. The predicted three dimensional cavity structures due to the variation of attack angle in the span-wise direction and the shedding cycle as well as its frequency agree fairly well with experimental observations. The distinct side-lobes of the attached cavity and the shedding U-shaped horse-shoe vortex are well captured. Furthermore, it is shown that the shedding horse-shoe vortex includes a primary U-shaped vapor cloud and two secondary U-shaped vapor clouds originating from the primary shedding at the cavity center and the secondary shedding at both cavity sides. The primary shedding is related to the collision of a radially-diverging re-entrant jet and the attached cavity surface, while the secondary shedding is due to the collision of side-entrant jets and the radially-diverging re-entrant jet. The local flow fields show that the interaction between the circulating flow and the shedding vapor cloud may be the main mechanism producing the cavitating horse-shoe vortex. Two side views described by iso-surfaces of the vapor volume fraction for a 10% vapor volume, and a non-dimensional Q-criterion equal to 200 are used to illustrate the formation, roll-up and transport of the shedding horse-shoe vortex. The predicted height of the shedding horse-shoe vortex increases as the vortex moves downstream. It is shown that the shape of the horse-shoe vortex for the non-dimensional Q-criterion is more complicated than that of the 10% vapor fraction iso-surface and is more consistent with the experiments. Further, though the time-averaged lift coefficient predicted by the PANS calculation is about 12% lower than the experimental value, it is better than other predictions based on RANS solvers.     

Two-dimensionality of a cantilevered-cylinder wake in the presence of an oscillating upstream cylinder

The effect of a longitudinally oscillating cylinder on the two-dimensionality of flow around a downstream cylinder is studied based on a two-point correlation measured using two hot-wires. The oscillation amplitude is A/d=0.472 and the oscillation frequency f_e/f_s=0.0372 and 0.186, where d is the cylinder diameter and f_s the frequency of natural vortex shedding from an isolated stationary cylinder. Three centre-to-centre spacing (L) ratios of the two cylinders were examined, i.e., L/d=1.8, 2.5 and 4.8, representing three typical flow regimes. The experiment was conducted at a Reynolds number (Re) of 5920, based on d and the free-stream velocity. It is found that the spanwise correlation of the flow depends on not only the oscillation but also the flow regimes. At L/d=1.8, the correlation is strongest among the three regimes, but worst in the co-shedding regime (L/d=4.8). The upstream cylinder oscillation improves the spanwise correlation of the flow in the gap of the cylinders, irrespective of regimes, especially for L/d=1.8 and 2.5, but impairs that behind the cylinders for L/d=1.8 and 2.5 due to a change in the flow regime. A theoretical analysis based on the boundary vorticity theory indicates that the oscillation increases the vorticity flux, in particular, in the spanwise direction between the cylinders, resulting in a significantly improved spanwise correlation, though this increase is negligibly small behind the downstream cylinder.     

Spanwise correlations in the wake of a circular cylinder and a trapezoid placed inside a circular pipe

The spanwise correlation of a circular cylinder and a trapezoidal bluff body placed inside a circular pipe in fully developed turbulent regime is studied using hotwire anemometer. The present configuration possesses complex fluid structure interaction owing to the following features: high blockage effect; low aspect ratio of the body; upstream turbulence and interaction of axisymmetric flow with a two dimensional bluff body. The spatial correlation of such configuration is seldom reported in the literature. Results are presented for Reynolds number of Re_D=1×10⁵. Three different blockage ratios (0.14, 0.19 and 0.28) are considered in the present study. Correlation coefficient is observed to improve with increase in blockage ratio. Compared to a circular cylinder, a trapezoidal bluff body possesses high correlation length. The near wall effects tend to increase the phase drift, which is reflected in low correlation coefficients close to the pipe wall. The results show that the simultaneous effect of curvature, low aspect ratio and upstream turbulence reduces the correlation coefficients significantly as compared to unconfined and confined (parallel channel) flows. The low frequency modulations with a circular cylinder are higher for lower blockage ratios. The three-dimensionality of vortex shedding for trapezoid with a blockage ratio of 0.28 was observed to be lower compared to circular cylinder and all other blockage ratios. Low frequency modulations were found to be responsible for weak vortex shedding from a circular cylinder compared to a trapezoidal bluff body. The vortex shedding is observed to be nearly two dimensional in case of a trapezoidal bluff body of blockage ratio 0.28.     

基于定常吹吸气的波浪型圆柱主动控制研究

基于定常吹吸气对波浪型圆柱近尾迹流动进行控制以增强柱体振动, 采用大涡模拟研究了亚临界雷诺数(Re = 3000)下前吹后吸和前后吸气控制方式在不同吹吸气工况对波浪型圆柱升阻力特性、时均压力系数、环量、湍动能及近尾迹流动结构的影响. 研究发现: 前吹后吸和前后吸气控制下波浪型圆柱在不同吹吸气动量系数工况脉动升力系数均显著提高, 最大较未受控直圆柱和波浪型圆柱分别提升高达636%和391%, 这主要可能归因于吹吸气控制使波浪型圆柱回流区变短, 高强度涡集中向钝体后方靠拢, 旋涡形成长度缩短, 展向涡流与顺流向涡流相互作用在波浪型圆柱下游形成的“肋状涡”变大变长, 近尾迹环量显著增大, 从而导致脉动升力系数增大, 这可能将诱导柱体产生更强的振动; 同时两种控制方式均改变了波浪型圆柱表面的压力分布, 由于在波浪型圆柱前驻点吹气使前端趋于流线型, 前吹后吸在不同吹吸气动量系数下波浪型圆柱的高压区减小, 但在后驻点吸气使得低压区增大, 而前后吸气在不同吹吸气动量系数下波浪型圆柱的高压区基本不变, 低压区增大. 研究结果可为低风速地区分布式风力俘能结构俘能效率提升提供基础理论支持.      

Flow behavior around a square cylinder subject to modulation of a planar jet issued from upstream surface

The flow behavior in the up- and downstream regions of a square cylinder subject to the modulation of a planar jet issued from the cylinder׳s front surface was studied using the laser-assisted smoke flow visualization method and hot-wire anemometer measurement. Reynolds numbers were from 1628 to 13 000. The drag force experienced by the square cylinder was obtained by measuring the surface pressures on the up- and downstream faces. The temporally evolving smoke flow patterns in the up- and downstream regions were synchronously revealed through the smoke flow visualization. The frequency characteristics of the instability waves in the up- and downstream regions were synchronously detected by the two hot-wire anemometers. Four characteristic flow modes were observed within the different ranges of the injection ratios. At the low injection ratios (IR<1), the ‘swinging jet’ appeared. The jet swung periodically leftward and rightward and formed a fluid bubble on the front surface. The fluid bubble contained a pair of counter-rotating vortices and presented a periodic variation in its height. At moderately low injection ratios (1<IR<4.3), the ‘deflected oscillating jet’ appeared. The jet was deflected in either the left or the right direction and wrapped around one of the edges of the square cylinder. Both the swinging and oscillating motions of the jet in the swinging jet and deflected oscillating jet modes were induced by the periodic feedback pressure signals generated by the vortex shedding in the wake. At the moderately high (4.3<IR<8.3) and high (IR>8.3) injection ratios, the ‘deflection jet’ and ‘penetrating jet’ appeared. The jet detached from the cylinder׳s front surface and penetrated a long distance into the upstream region due to large jet momentum. Neither periodic jet oscillation in the upstream region nor vortex shedding in the wake was observed. The drag coefficient was found to be decreasing quickly with increasing the injection ratio.     

Hydrodynamic forces on dual cylinders of different diameters in steady currents

Turbulent flow past two circular cylinders of different diameters is numerically investigated. The two-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations are solved by using a finite element method with a k–ω turbulence closure. Following a relevant numerical model validation process, effects of cylinder gap-to-diameter ratio, the angular position of the smaller cylinder and the diameter ratio of cylinders on the vortex shedding and the forces on the cylinders are investigated using the numerical model. It is found that the relative position of the small cylinder has significant effects on the hydrodynamic force and vortex shedding characteristics of the cylinders.     

Wake flow pattern modified by small control cylinders at low Reynolds number

Passive wake control behind a circular cylinder in uniform flow is studied by numerical simulation for Re_D ranging from 80 to 300. Two small control cylinders, with diameter d/D=1/8, are placed at x/D=0.5 and y/D=±0.6. Unlike the 1990 results of Strykowski and Sreenivasan, in the present study, the vortex street behind the main cylinder still exists but the fluctuating lift and the form drag on the main cylinder reduces significantly and monotonously as the Reynolds number increases from 80 to 300. Obstruction of the control cylinders to the incoming flow deflects part of the fluid to pass through the gap between the main and control cylinders, forming two symmetric streams. These streams not only eliminate the flow separation along the rear surface of the main cylinder, they also merge toward the wake centerline to create an advancing momentum in the immediate near-wake region. These two effects significantly reduce the wake width behind the main cylinder and lead to monotonous decrease of the form drag as the Reynolds number increases. As the Reynolds number gets higher, a large amount of the downstream advancing momentum significantly delays the vortex formation farther downstream, leading to a more symmetric flow structure in the near-wake region of the main cylinder. As the Reynolds number increases from 80 to 300, both increasing symmetry of the flow structure in the near-wake and significant delay of the vortex formation are the main reasons for the fluctuating lift to decrease monotonously.