The influence of surface roughness on postcritical flow over circular cylinders revisited

This work investigates the effect of surface roughness on cylinder flows in the postcritical regime and reexamines whether the roughness Reynolds number (Re-ks) primarily governs the aerodynamic behaviour. It has been motivated by limitations of many previous investigations, containing occasionally contradictory findings. In particular, many past studies were conducted with relatively high blockage ratios and low cylinder aspect ratios. Both of these factors appear to have non-negligible effects on flow behaviour, and particularly fluctuating quantities such as the standard deviation of the lift coefficient. This study employs a 5% blockage ratio and a span-to-diameter ratio of 10. Cylinders of different relative surface roughness ratios (k(s)/D), ranging from 1.1 x 10(-3) to 3 x 10(-3), were investigated at Reynolds numbers up to 6.8 x 10(5) and Re-ks up to 2200. It is found that the base pressure coefficient, drag coefficient, Strouhal number, spanwise correlation length of lift and the standard deviation of the lift coefficient are well described by Re-ks in postcritical flows. However, roughness does have an effect on the minimum surface pressure coefficient (near separation) that does not collapse with Re-ks. The universal Strouhal number proposed by Bearman (Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech., vol. 16, 1984, pp. 195-222) appears to be nearly constant over the range of Re-ks studied, spanning the subcritical through postcritical regimes. Frequencies in the separating shear layers are found to be an order of magnitude lower than the power law predictions for separating shear layers of smooth cylinders.

Automated summary

This study investigates the effect of surface roughness on cylinder flows and finds that the roughness Reynolds number can well describe some characteristics of cylinder flow behavior. However, roughness has an impact on the minimum surface pressure coefficient near separation.