Numerical investigation of unsteady flow across tandem square cylinders near a moving wall at Re = 100

Abstract

Flow across tandem square cylinders placed close to a plane moving wall, has been studied extensively for various cylinder inter-spacing ratio (0.5≤S/D≤8) and cylinder-to-wall gap ratio values (0.1≤G/D≤4) at a fixed value of Reynolds number, Re = 100. Numerical experiments are performed using the computational package ANSYS FLUENT®. Results indicate that unsteady flow past tandem cylinders relies primarily on the presence of a moving wall. Exhaustive details on the effects of varying S/D and G/D values on the onset and suppression of vortex shedding behind the tandem cylinders are given. A detailed description of the underlying flow physics is provided through instantaneous vorticity and streamline contours. Forces such as the lift and drag acting on the cylinders are reasoned qualitatively through time-averaged pressure, lift, and drag coefficient plots. A remark on existence and suppression of flow unsteadiness is given through Strouhal number variation. A rigorous comparison of the present flow field with flow past an isolated square cylinder, square cylinder near a moving wall, and unbounded tandem cylinders is given. Overall, unlike the lift, drag coefficient values happen to be highest for single cylinder case, followed by the upstream cylinder, and they are least for the downstream cylinder. © 2021 The Author(s).