Lattice Boltzmann analysis of fluid structure interaction mechanism around a row of five side-by-side square cylinders

Abstract

In this paper numerical investigations are performed to examine the effect of Reynolds numbers (Re) and spacing ratios (g) on flow around a row of five side-by-side square cylinders using the lattice Boltzmann method. The Reynolds number is varied in the range 75 ≤ Re ≤ 175, while spacing ratio is varied between 0.5 and 5. The flow structure mechanism around a row of five side-by-side square cylinders is studied in terms of vorticity contours visualization, time trace analysis of drag and lifts coefficients, and power spectrum analysis of lift coefficient. The effect of Re on force statistics like mean drag coefficient and Strouhal number is also analyzed. The present data are compared with the data of single square cylinder and good agreement is observed for large spacing ratio (g = 5). The flow behind five side-by-side square cylinders is classified into three different flow regimes and these regimes are further subdivided into seven different regimes. The observed flow regimes are compared with those of the other researchers published studies and found good agreement.