Numerical study of a linear shear flow past a rotating cylinder

Abstract

The effects of shear rate on flow past a rotating circular cylinder in a linear shear flow have been investigated by using a hybrid vortex method at a Reynolds number of 1000. The velocity gradient of the shear flow K ranges from -0.3 to 0.3 and the rotational to translational speed ratio α is 0.5. The results show that the form of vortex shedding is controlled by the shear parameter K. The drag coefficient decreases with increasing |K|. On the other hand, the lift coefficient and Strouhal number increase as K increases. As K increases, the separation positions shift downstream, the wake becomes narrower and the amplitude of fluctuation of the instantaneous lift and drag coefficients decreases.