The aerodynamic forces and wake flow of a rotating circular cylinder under various flow regimes

Abstract

A rotating circular cylinder in a flow is influenced by the Magnus force, and there are prospects for broad application in the field of wind energy. However, the aerodynamic characteristics of rotating circular cylinders under different flow regimes must be further researched. The present study measures the aerodynamic forces and wakes of a circular cylinder rotating at various speeds in the presence of wind speeds corresponding to Reynolds numbers between 0.46 × 105 and approximately 5.10 × 105, which cover the subcritical and critical ranges. The effects of the rotating speed ratio of the cylinder on aerodynamic forces and wake flow under different flow regimes are discussed. The changes in aerodynamic and wake characteristics during the flow state transition and the correlation between the wake flow and aerodynamic force are examined. The results show that the change in the rotating speed ratio affects the flow state around the rotating circular cylinder. The sensitivity of the aerodynamic force to the rotating speed ratio is different under various flow states. Additionally, the rotation of the cylinder causes deviation in the wake, and the deviation has a notable effect on the intensity of the fluctuations of the wake flow and vortex shedding frequency.