Fluctuating Lift Forces of the Karman Vortex Streets on Single Circular Cylinders and in Tube Bundles: Part 1—The Vortex Street Geometry of the Single Circular Cylinder

Abstract

The geometry of the vortex street for single circular cylinders will be calculated from the measured values given by numerous investigators about the steady pressure drag coefficient and the Strouhal number, whereby the Kronauer minimum drag criterion comes into use. The calculated results will be compared with the experimentally determined ones. A good agreement can be achieved between both. The Bearman-Strouhal number SB = fh/Us will also be computed as a function of the Reynolds number. Furthermore a new wake number C = fh2 /Γ will be introduced. It will be shown that this new number is universally much better than the Bearman one. It remains constant at 0.165 for an ideal flow over the whole Reynolds number range up to the highest value of 107 ever measured hitherto.