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.