Suppression of vortex-induced vibration of a circular cylinder using thermal effects

Abstract

Transverse vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of a cylinder with various body-to-fluid density ratio and stiffness is studied. The cylinder is elastically mounted and heated, and the flow direction is aligned with the direction of the thermal induced buoyancy force. Amplitude of VIV can be reduced as the thermal control parameter Richardson number (Ri) increases, or even be fully suppressed when Ri is above a critical value. This critical Richardson number depends on both body-to-fluid density and structural stiffness. A higher critical Richardson is required to fully suppress the VIV of a structure with smaller density ratio. With the same density or mass, a structure with intermediate stiffness vibrating in lock-in regime needs higher critical Ri to suppress VIV than either rigid or flexible structures. Drag experienced by the body is also studied. It is found that for a flexible body, drag gradually increases with the Richardson number. For a body with intermediate stiffness, both drag and amplitude of VIV can be reduced until the Richardson number reaches the critical value, after which drag builds up if the Richardson number is further increased. A drag reduction of 30%–40% can be obtained at the critical Richardson number.