Dependence of flow classification on the Reynolds number for a two-cylinder wake

This work aims to investigate the dependence of flow classification on the Reynolds number (Re) for the wake of two staggered cylinders. The Re examined ranges from 1.5 x 10(3) to 2.0 x 10(4). The pitch ratio, P*=P/d examined is 1.2-6.0 (d is the cylinder diameter), and angle (a) is 0-90 degrees, where P is the center-to-center spacing between two cylinders and a is the angle between the incident flow and the line through the cylinder centers. Two single hotwires were used to measure simultaneously the fluctuating streamwise velocities (u) in the vortex streets generated by the two cylinders. The power spectral density functions and the Strouhal numbers were then obtained from the u signals, based on which the flow structure pattern or mode could be determined. Over two hundred configurations of two staggered cylinders have been examined for each Re. It is found that Re has an appreciable effect on the dependence of the flow mode on P* and alpha. The observation is connected to the Re effect on the generic features of a two-cylinder wake such as flow separation, boundary layer thickness, gap flow deflection and vortex formation length. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.