Flow control around two side-by-side square cylinders using dual splitter plates

Abstract

This study systematically examines the influence of length of dual splitter plates placed at front and rear sides of two side-by-side square cylinders on flow features and fluid force reduction. The Reynolds number is kept at 150 for all computations, and the separation ratio and splitter plate length are varied from 0.5 to 5 and 1 to 5, respectively. The method of investigation is the single-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann method. The vortex shedding suppression phenomenon occurred due to the presence of dual splitter plates. It is found that the increase in splitter plate length influences the wake structure and increases the wake length by stabilizing the shear layers before rolling up. It is also found that at small separation ratios by placing the dual splitter plates stabilize the flow. The length of splitter plates for minimal drag on the cylinders is found for each separation ratio. Significant reduction in the drag forces is found for both cylinders. At the optimum position the drag coefficient of lower cylinder and upper cylinder is reduced by 45 and 62%, respectively, at separation ratio 0.5 and splitter plate’s length 5. Systematic analysis shows that the splitter plates not only significantly reduce the drag on the cylinders, but also considerably suppress the vortex shedding.