Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Vortex Shedding on Boundary Layer Unsteadiness

Abstract

The interaction between an initially laminar boundary layer developed spatially on a flat plate under the influence of vortex shedding induced from a rotating circular cylinder has been simulated numerically. The rotational speed of the cylinder is varied to generate the vortex shedding of different intensities. Also the flat plate is kept at different positions from the cylinder. Due to asymmetry in the flow field, the present problem is governed by unsteady Navier-Stokes equations which are simulated numerically by finite element method. Computations are carried out for low Reynolds number range up to 1000. Instantaneous development of the flow field, unsteady boundary layer integral parameters, and wall skin friction are presented on different streamwise locations over the plate. From the computation, it is observed that the vortex shedding substantially affects the boundary layer development. The disturbed displacement and momentum thicknesses of the plate increase up to 1.6 times and 2.6 times of the undisturbed flow, respectively. Also the plate shape factor approaches a value of 1.5 which is typical for turbulent flow. This interaction strongly depends on the rotating speed of the cylinder, the relative positions of the cylinder and the plate and also on Reynolds number of the flow.

Keywords: Vortex shedding, finite element, boundary layer, wall skin friction.

doi:10.3329/jme.v37i0.817

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Vol.37 June 2007, pp.33-39