Numerical Simulation of the Flow-Sound Interaction Mechanisms of a Single and Two-Tandem Cylinders in Cross-Flow

Abstract

A numerical simulation of the flow-excited acoustic resonance for the case of two-tandem cylinders in cross-flow is performed. The spacing ratio between the cylinders (L/D=2.5) is inside the proximity interference region. Similar simulation is performed for the case of a single cylinder. The unsteady flow field is simulated using a finite-volume method. This simulation is then coupled with a finite-element simulation of the resonant sound field, by means of Howe’s theory of aerodynamics sound, to reveal the details of flow-sound interaction mechanisms, including the nature and the locations of the aeroacoustic sources in the flow field. For the case of a single cylinder, acoustic resonance is excited over a single range of flow velocity. The main aeroacoustic source, which causes a positive energy transfer from the flow field to the acoustic field, is found to be located just downstream of the cylinder. For the case of two-tandem cylinders, the acoustic resonance is excited over two different ranges of flow velocity: the precoincidence and the coincidence resonance ranges. For the coincidence resonance range, the main aeroacoustic source is found to be located just downstream of the downstream cylinder, and the excitation mechanism of this resonance range is found to be similar to that of a single cylinder. However, for the precoincidence resonance range, the primary acoustic source is found to be located in the gap between the cylinders. Moreover, flow visualization of the wake structure for the two-tandem cylinders during acoustic resonance shows that for the precoincidence resonance range there is a phase shift of about 90 deg between the vortex shedding from the upstream and the downstream cylinders, which is different from the coincidence resonance range, where the vortex shedding from both cylinders seems to be in-phase.