Aerodynamic effects of the angle of attack on a rectangular prism

In the past, in-line vibration caused by low-velocity flows proved to be potentially very destructive. Therefore, in this paper, an experimental investigation concerning the aerodynamic properties of a 2 x 1 rectangular cross-sectional prism is presented. The 2 x 1 cross section was chosen specifically for the in-line vibration demonstrated by this shape in past studies. Through the use of wind tunnel tests, the aerodynamic response to various angles of attack were examined. Specifically, Strouhal numbers and vibrational response were measured at a number of different angles of attack for both two- and three-dimensional models. In addition, static aerodynamic force components and vortex formation around the prism were investigated for angles of 0 degrees and 90 degrees. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.