Numerical Study of Incompressible Flow About Transversely Oscillating Cylinder Pairs

Abstract

A numerical investigation of incompressible flow about transversely oscillating cylinder pairs is performed. Both tandem and side-by-side arrangements undergoing both flow-induced and forced transverse oscillations are considered. A second-order projection scheme is used to solve the 2-D incompressible Navier Stokes equations and a staggered approach is used to couple flow and structural response. Automatic mesh deformation and adaptation are used to handle arbitrary motion of the bodies. Comparisons with experimental results indicate that the present numerical method can capture complex interference and flow–structure interaction phenomena. Specifically, results are presented that demonstrate wake galloping effects, in which a cylinder in the wake of another experiences large flow-induced vibration over a wide range of flow velocities, and the presence of an experimentally observed secondary peak in the flow-induced vibration of rigidly connected cylinders in a tandem arrangement. An explanation of this secondary peak is provided by employing appropriate visualization of the unsteady flow. Results for forced oscillation of a pair of cylinders in a side-by-side arrangement are also presented that show the effect of phase angle on the wake structure behind the cylinder pair.