Effect of rounding on flow-induced forces on a square cylinder

A numerical study has been carried out to elucidate the effects of rounding the sharp edges on flow-induced forces on a square cylinder immersed in a laminar cross flow. Rounding reduces both the upstream stagnation pressure and the downstream base pressure. Consequently, competition between these two pressure reductions yields the minimum drag on the cylinder when its edges are partially rounded. It was also found that the leading-edge rounding is mainly responsible for the topological change thus the drag reduction, while the trailing- edge rounding alone just enhances lift fluctuation. However, trailing-edge rounding plays a role of stabilizing the flow when all of the four edges are rounded.