Unsteady numerical simulation of flow around 2-D circular cylinder for high Reynolds numbers

Abstract

In this paper, 2-D computational analyses were conducted for unsteady high Reynolds number flows around a smooth circular cylinder in the supercritical and upper-transition flow regimes, i.e. 8.21×10⁴<Re<1.54×10⁶. The calculations were performed by means of solving the 2-D Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations with a k-ɛ turbulence model. The calculated results, produced flow structure drag and lift coefficients, as well as Strouhal numbers. The findings were in good agreement with previous published data, which also supplied us with a good understanding of the flow across cylinders of different high Reynolds numbers. Meanwhile, an effective measure was presented to control the lift force on a cylinder, which points the way to decrease the vortex induced vibration of marine structure in future.

Keywords

circular cylinder / vortex shedding / high Reynolds number / Strouhal numbers / lift control measure / marine structure / unsteady numerical simulation