Effect of Free Stream Turbulence on Flow Past a Circular Cylinder at Low Reynolds Numbers

Circular cylinders experiencing different upstream flow conditions have been studied for low Reynolds numbers using hot-wire anemometry and smoke flow visualizations. The upstream condition of the cylinder in the test section is varied using a wire mesh placed at the entrance of the test section. The Reynolds number is varied by varying the diameter of the cylinder and the mean velocity in the test section. Smooth cylinders of diameter varying from 1.25 to 25 mm are used in the present study. A multi-channel hot-wire anemometry is used for measuring the fluctuating velocities in the test section and the wake behind the cylinder. The sectional views of the wake behind the cylinder are obtained using a 4 MP CCD camera, 200 mJ pulsed laser and a fog generator. The flow quality in the test section is examined using higher order turbulence statistics. The effect of free stream turbulence levels and their frequencies on wake structures and the shedding frequencies of circular cylinders are studied in detail. It has been observed that the alteration in wake structure and the shedding frequency depend strongly on the frequencies and the amplitudes of upstream disturbances besides the diameter of the circular cylinder. © 2018, The Institution of Engineers (India).