Wake characteristics of wall-mounted solid and foam-covered circular cylinders

Abstract

The wake characteristics of wall-mounted finite submerged solid and foam-covered circular cylinders (height/diameter = 0.9) are explored using large-eddy simulation for a Reynolds number (based on the cylinder diameter) of 13 000, and the simulation results are validated using particle image velocimetry. The foam-covered cylinder consists of an inner cylinder wrapped with a highly porous open-cell foam and capped by circular plates at the top and bottom. Two recirculation regions are identified for both cylinders, based on time-averaged data, one downstream and another above the top surface of the cylinder. The presence of the foam induces changes in the characteristics of both recirculation regions. The foam covering also interrupts the formation of large periodic structures, the evidence of which can be seen in the temporal distribution and discrete Fourier analysis of the force coefficients and velocity fluctuations. The temporal lateral oscillations, represented by the coefficient of sway, are observed for the solid cylinder but are suppressed in the case of the foam-covered cylinder. Two dominating frequencies are consistently present for the solid cylinder, but no such frequencies can be identified for the foam-covered cylinder. Finally, spectral proper orthogonal decomposition modes are presented in order to further substantiate the findings.