A comprehensive investigation of vortex-induced vibrations and flow-induced rotation of an elliptic cylinder

Abstract

This work finds its motivation in heat exchanger design and flow control. Flow-induced vibration is studied numerically for combined vortex-induced vibrations and vortex-induced rotations of a horizontally positioned elliptic cylinder. The aspect ratio is taken as 2, and the value of reduced velocities (Ured) considered for the present simulation is between 2 and 12. The body can have to and fro motions in a transverse (y) direction, in-line (x) direction as well as in azimuthal (θ) direction, which provides three degrees of freedom (DOF) to the body. It is found that for one-DOF (y-direction only) and two-DOF (y and x directions) cases, lock-in regions are the same while it is wider for the case of the three-DOF system. With the rotational DOF, y-directional motion is amplified and when it is compared with the one-DOF and two-DOF cases, difference in peak amplitude is about 30%. The rotational response reaches a maximum value within the synchronization regime, and the frequency behavior of rotational and transverse oscillations is showing the same characteristics. The phase difference is plotted to check their synchronization with respective forces and moments. For all DOFs and Ured, synchronized or desynchronized regions, 2S mode of vortex shedding was observed. For one-DOF and two-DOF cases, the transverse vibrational frequency ratio (fy/fn) becomes equal to unity for the range 3.75≤Ured≤5. For three-DOF, fy/fn and rotational frequency ratio (fR/fn) become close to the unity for 3.75≤Ured≤6. The three-DOF system shows smaller wake width and vortex formation length whereas the vortex strength is maximum.