An experimental investigation of grit size effect over a smooth circular cylinder

Abstract

Flow over a smooth circular cylinder with various grit size model surface is investigated and discussed, taking into consideration the well-known characteristics of flow over a smooth circular cylinder in this paper. The experimental investigation was performed in a low-speed subsonic wind tunnel to observe the effect of grit size over a smooth circular cylinder at Reynolds number 151392. The grit size varies from extra coarse to extra fine, i.e. sandpaper (36, 80, 150, 220, 320, and 360) over a smooth circular cylinder and its effect describes the flow separation and drag coefficient over a smooth circular cylinder at a constant speed and diameter of the cylinder. From the wind tunnel experimental data, the drag coefficient increases over a smooth circular cylinder by varying grit size from extra coarse to extra fine (i.e. grade 1 to 6). The variation of drag coefficient from grade 1 to 6 is 43.99%, 40.78%, 50.76%, 42.74%, 42.76%, and 50.60% as compared to the previous data obtained from the literature. The effect of grit size from extra coarse to extra fine coarse over a smooth circular cylinder, the aerodynamic characteristics studied experimentally.