Chris Morton

Vortex shedding in the wake of a step cylinder

Flow past a circular cylinder with a single stepwise discontinuity in diameter was investigated numerically for the diameter ratio D/d=2 and two Reynolds numbers, ReD=150 and 300. The primary focus was on vortex shedding and vortex interactions occurring in the cylinder wake. In agreement with previous experimental findings, three distinct spanwise vortex cells were identified in the step-cylinder wake: a single vortex shedding cell in the wake of the small cylinder (the S-cell) and two vortex shedding cells in the wake of the large cylinder, one in the region downstream of the step (the N-cell) and the other away from the step (the L-cell). Due to the differences in vortex shedding frequencies, complex vortex connections occurred in two vortex interaction regions located between the adjacent cells. However, distinct differences in vortex splitting and vortex dislocations were identified in the two regions. The region at the boundary between the S-cell and the N-cell was relatively narrow and its spanwise...

Flow development and structural loading on dual step cylinders in laminar shedding regime

The flow development over a dual step cylinder is investigated numerically at a Reynolds number (ReD) of 150 for a range of aspect ratios, 0.2 ≤ L/D ≤ 5, and diameter ratios, 1.1 ≤ D/d ≤ 4. The results reveal the following four distinct types of wake topology downstream of the larger diameter cylinder: (i) shedding of hairpin vortices, (ii) transient asymmetric shedding, (iii) primarily spanwise shedding, and (iv) no vortex shedding. Dominant vortex interactions are reconstructed for each regime. These interactions, involving half-loop vortex connections, vortex merging, and direct vortex connections are shown to occur periodically as the large and small cylinder structures undergo vortex dislocations. Topological schematics are introduced to relate the characteristic frequencies to the periodic vortex interactions. The observed types of wake topology are shown to produce distinctly different mean and fluctuating forces on the dual step cylinder. For lower aspect and diameter ratios (L/D ∼ 1 and D/d ∼ 1.5...

Vortex Dynamics in the Turbulent Wake of a Single Step Cylinder

The turbulent wake development of a circular cylinder with a single stepwise discontinuity in diameter was investigated experimentally using flow visualization and two-component Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV). A single step cylinder is comprised of two cylinders of different diameters (D and d). Experiments were performed at a Reynolds number (ReD) of 1050 and a diameter ratio (D/d) of two. A combination of hydrogen bubble and laser induced fluorescence techniques allowed visualization of complex vortex dynamics in the near wake. The results show that turbulent vortex shedding from a single step cylinder occurs in three distinct cells of constant shedding frequency. The differences in frequency and strengths between vortices in the cells lead to complex vortex interactions at the cell boundaries. The results demonstrate that vortex splitting, half-loop vortex connections, and direct cross-boundary vortex connections occur near the cell boundaries. A comparative analysis of flow visualizations and velocity measurements is used to characterize the main vortex cells and the attendant vortex interactions, producing a simplified model of vortex dynamics in the step cylinder wake for ReD = 1050 and D/d = 2.

Proper orthogonal decomposition analysis of a circular cylinder undergoing vortex-induced vibrations

Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) is utilized to analyze the wake-dynamics of a low-mass ratio circular cylinder undergoing vortex-induced vibrations in the initial and upper branches (U* = U∞/fND = 4.07, 5.32). POD allows for characterizing dynamics at frequencies which differ from the cylinder oscillation that cannot be captured with conventional phase-averaging. POD modes contributing to the dominant coherent motions are described in detail. Fourier analysis techniques are used to identify relationships between the POD modes describing non-periodic dynamics linked to the slow-varying base flow and result in a modulation in the strength of vortex shedding. Heuristic models based on mean-field theory are proposed for the POD temporal coefficients. The modelled wake dynamics are found to account for a significant contribution to the Reynolds stresses. In the initial branch, it is found that 6 POD modes are required to capture the salient aspects of the flow, while in the upper branch, 7 modes are required.Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) is utilized to analyze the wake-dynamics of a low-mass ratio circular cylinder undergoing vortex-induced vibrations in the initial and upper branches (U* = U∞/fND = 4.07, 5.32). POD allows for characterizing dynamics at frequencies which differ from the cylinder oscillation that cannot be captured with conventional phase-averaging. POD modes contributing to the dominant coherent motions are described in detail. Fourier analysis techniques are used to identify relationships between the POD modes describing non-periodic dynamics linked to the slow-varying base flow and result in a modulation in the strength of vortex shedding. Heuristic models based on mean-field theory are proposed for the POD temporal coefficients. The modelled wake dynamics are found to account for a significant contribution to the Reynolds stresses. In the initial branch, it is found that 6 POD modes are required to capture the salient aspects of the flow, while in the upper branch, 7 modes are requ...

Vortex Shedding From Low Aspect Ratio Dual Step Cylinders

A low aspect ratio dual-step cylinder is comprised of two cylinders of different diameters (D and d). The large diameter cylinder (D) with low aspect ratio (L/D) is attached to the mid-span of a small diameter cylinder (d). This geometry is relevant to many engineering applications, e.g., finned-tube heat exchangers, underwater cables, and cylindrical support structures. The present study investigates the effect of Reynolds number (ReD) and L/D on dual step cylinder wake development for 1050 ≤ ReD ≤ 2100, D/d = 2, and 0.2 < L/D ≤ 3. 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 the large and small diameter cylinders at distinct frequencies for L/D ≥ 1 & ReD = 2100 and L/D ≥ 2& ReD = 1050. At these higher aspect ratios investigated, large cylinder vortices predominantly form closed vortex loops in the wake and small cylinder vortices form half-loop vortex connections. In contrast, at lower aspect ratios, vortex shedding from the large cylinder ceases, with the dominant frequency centred-activity in the large cylinder wake attributed to the passage of vortex filaments connecting small cylinder vortices. The presence of the large cylinder distorts the vortex filaments causing cyclic vortex dislocations accompanied by the formation of half-loop vortex connections. Increasing L/D decreases the frequency of occurrence of vortex dislocations and increases the dominant frequency in the large cylinder wake. 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.Copyright

A Combined Experimental and Numerical Study of Flow Past a Single Step Cylinder

The current study investigates flow past a step cylinder for ReD = 1050 and D/d = 2 using both experimental and numerical methods. The focus of the study is on the vortex shedding and vortex interactions occurring in the step cylinder wake. Flow visualization with hydrogen bubble technique and planar Laser Induced Fluorescence has shown that three distinct spanwise vortex cells form: a single vortex shedding cell in the wake of the small cylinder and two vortex shedding cells in the wake of the large cylinder. Vortex connections form between the spanwise vortices in these cells downstream of the step, and vortex dislocations occur at cell boundaries. Complementary to the experimental tests, an LES-RANS hybrid numerical simulation is used to model the flow development. A comparison of the experimental and numerical results indicates that the numerical approach adequately models vortex dynamics in the wake of a step cylinder and, thus, may be used to analyze time dependent, three-dimensional flow topology which is difficult to characterize quantitatively using experimental methods.Copyright

An Experimental Study of Flow Past a Dual Step Cylinder

Flow past a dual step cylinder has been investigated using experimental flow visualization methods. The dual step cylinder model is comprised of a small diameter cylinder (d) and a large diameter cylinder (D) mounted at the mid-span of the small cylinder. The experiments have been performed for ReD = 1050, D/d = 2, and a range of large cylinder aspect ratios (L/D). The focus of the study is on vortex shedding and vortex interactions occurring in the large and small cylinder wakes. A flow visualization study completed using hydrogen bubble technique and planar laser induced fluorescence has shown that the flow development is highly dependent on the aspect ratio of the large cylinder, L/D. The results identify four distinct flow regimes: (i) for L/D ≥ 17, three vortex shedding cells form in the wake of the large cylinder, one central cell and two cells of lower frequency extending over about 4.5D from the large cylinder ends, (ii) for 7 < L/D ≤ 14, a single vortex shedding cell forms in the wake of the large cylinder, whose shedding frequency decreases with decreasing L/D, (iii) for 2 ≤ L/D ≤ 7, vortex shedding in the wake of the large cylinder is highly three-dimensional, such that each vortex deforms while it is shed into the wake, (iv) for 0.2 ≤ L/D ≤ 1, only small cylinder vortices are shed in the wake and often form vortex connections across the wake of the large cylinder.Copyright

Study of Flow over a Step Cylinder

Flow over a step cylinder at ReD = 2000 and D/d = 2 was investigated using a URANS-based numerical approach. The results illustrate the downstream development and interaction of wake vortices and identify streamwise vortical structures originating at the step. The observed flow development is shown to be in agreement with experimental results. Also, a comparison of the computational results and previous experimental findings is carried out for the drag coefficient and the pressure coefficient.