Numerical study of the rounded corners effect on flow past a square cylinder

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to numerically investigate the influence of corner radius on flow past a square cylinder at a Reynolds number 500.

Design/methodology/approach

Six models were studied, for R/D=0 (square cylinder), 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 (circular cylinder), where R is the corner radius and D is the characteristic dimension of the body. The transient two-dimensional (2D) laminar and large eddy simulations (LES) models were employed using finite volume code. The Strouhal number, mean drag coefficient (C_D), and root mean square (RMS) value of lift coefficient (C_L,RMS), for different R/D values, were computed and compared with experimental and other numerical results.

Findings

The computational results showed good agreement with previously published results for a Reynolds number, Re=500. It was found that the corner effect on a square cylinder greatly influences the flow characteristics around the cylinder. Results indicate that, as the corner radius ratio, R/D, increases, the Strouhal number increases rapidly for R/D=0-0.2, and then gradually rises between R/D=0.2 and 0.5. The minimum values of the mean drag coefficient and the RMS value of lift coefficient were found around R/D=0.2, which is verified by the time averaged streamwise velocity deficit profile.

Originality/value

On the basis of the numerical results, it is concluded that rounded corners on a square cylinder are useful in reducing the drag and lift forces generated behind a cylinder. Finally, it is suggested that with a rounded corner ratio of around R/D=0.2, the drag and oscillation of the cylinder can be greatly reduced, as compared to circular and square cylinders.

Citation

Miran, S. and Sohn, C.H. (2015), "Numerical study of the rounded corners effect on flow past a square cylinder", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 25 No. 4, pp. 686-702. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-12-2013-0339