Effects of Reynolds number on vortex structure behind a surface-mounted finite square cylinder with AR = 7

Abstract

This paper presents the numerical solutions of flow around a surface-mounted square cylinder of aspect ratio h/d = 7 at Reynolds numbers of 652 and 13 041. The aim is to investigate the effect of the Reynolds number, between its medium-to-high range, on the flow and vortex structure around such a cylinder. The present simulations have successfully reproduced the primary flow, as well as the three-dimensional large-scale vortex structure in the wake of the finite wall-mounted body. The observation of base vortices, tip vortices, and a horseshoe vortex is consistent with previous experimental studies. A dipole wake is captured at the higher Reynolds number, while a quadrupole wake is captured for the lower, indicating that the Reynolds number strongly influences the wake structure. In the near-wake region, by plotting the isosurface of instantaneous second invariant of the velocity gradient, the full-loop structure is observed for the quadrupole wake, while the half-loop structure is observed for the dipole wake. In the far-wake region, a braided vortex structure formed by asymmetric hairpin vortices is observed at both Reynolds numbers and a new wake topology is proposed for flows with a similar geometry.