Incompressible SPH simulation of flow past horizontal cylinder between plane wall and free surface

Abstract

Flow past a circular cylinder located between free-surface and wall boundaries is modelled numerically using non-uniform particle size incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). Several enhancements including Rhie and Chow interpolation, colour function-based free surface tracking, and modified particle shifting are introduced to increase the accuracy and efficiency of the method. A parameter study at constant Reynolds number, Re=150, examines the influence of Froude number (Fr=0.2−0.6), submergence ratio (H∕D=0.5−1.0, where H is the distance between the apex of the cylinder and undisturbed free surface, and D is the cylinder diameter), and bottom gap ratio (G∕D=1.0−5.0, where G is the distance between the base of the cylinder and the bed) on the ambient free-surface flow pattern and hydrodynamic force on the cylinder. It is found that the vortex shedding pattern depends on all three parameters. As the Froude number increases for fixed submergence ratio and bottom gap ratio, vortex shedding is eventually suppressed. As the submergence and bottom gap ratios increase, the threshold of vortex shedding suppression shifts to higher values of Froude number. The mean drag coefficient depends on the submergence ratio and bottom gap ratio but is independent of Froude number. Meanwhile, the lift coefficient depends on submergence ratio and Froude number but is independent of bottom gap ratio. Spectral analysis of force and free-surface elevation time signals shows that the free-surface deformation and lift force are closely related during the vortex shedding regime.