Transverse surface waves in steady uniform and non-uniform flows through an array of emergent and slightly submerged square cylinders

Abstract

Steady uniform and non-uniform flows through an array of emergent and slightly submerged square cylinders are experimentally investigated with a specific focus on transverse seiche waves induced by vortex shedding. The study is first and foremost aimed at assessing the effect of streamwise flow non-uniformity on seiche waves. Its secondary purpose is to investigate the change in seiche magnitude, when initially emerged cylinders become slightly submerged. Thirdly and lastly, the effect of seiche waves on mean velocities and velocity fluctuations is quantified. The lock-in process between waves and vortex shedding is unaltered by flow non-uniformity and by a change from cylinder emergence to submergence. For non-uniform flows, this results in the co-existence of two differently oscillating transverse waves close to each other. Relative wave amplitude is found to be mainly influenced by relative submergence in the case of submerged cylinders, and by Froude number and oscillation mode in the case of emergent cylinders. Finally, seiche waves modify the streamwise mean velocity, when cylinders are emergent.