Vortex induced oscillations of cylinders at low and intermediate reynolds numbers

Abstract

We study the orientational behavior of a hinged cylinder suspended in a water tunnel in the presence of an incompressible flow with Reynolds number (Re), based on particle dimensions, ranging between 100 and 6000 and non-dimensional inertia of the body(I ?) in the range 0.1-0.6. The cylinder displays four unique features, which include: steady orientation, random oscillations, periodic oscillations and autorotation.We illustrate these features displayed by the cylinder using a phase diagram which captures the observed phenomena as a function of Re and I ?. We identify critical Re and I ? to distinguish the different behaviors of the cylinders. We used the hydrogen bubble flow visualization technique to show vortex shedding structure in the cylinder's wake which results in these oscillations. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.