Two dimensional unsteady flow past a square cylinder: Influence of proximal plane wall and power-law index

Abstract

A numerical analysis using Ansys Fluent has been done to investigate the flow physics involved in both Newtonian and Power-law (shear-thinning) fluid flow over a square cylinder, placed near a wall with altered gap-to-side (G/a) ratios (where G represents the gap between the cylinder and the plane wall and a represents side of the square cylinder). At a constant Reynolds number, Re = 150, numerical calculations for unsteady, incompressible Navier-Stroke (N-S) equation with varying viscosity is carried out by using second-order upwind momentum and least square cell based pressure solver. It is found that for small G/a ratio shear-thinning fluid exhibits vortex shedding which was absent for Newtonian fluid. G/a ratio and power-law index have a strong influence on the coefficient of lift and coefficient of drag (CL and CD respectively). With the increase in gap-ratio, CD decreases and CL increases at a constant value of power-law (n) index. Also, CL increases and CD reduces with a decrease in n at a constant value of G/a. Detailed observation of instantaneous and mean vorticity and streamlines, coefficient of lift and drag, mean pressure distribution over the cylinder and the plane wall and recirculation length have been presented.