Numerical Study of the Effect of the Upstream Object on Flow Control of the Downstream Object

Flow behaviors of the downstream object, such as a cylinder or an airfoil, can be influenced significantly by an upstream object in close proximity. Examples include tandem cylinders and cylinder-airfoil interactions. In this study, numerical simulations are carried out to investigate several parameters that affect the flow around the downstream object, such as the relative location, size, and motion of the upstream object. Particularly, the flow separation and the related lift and drag behavior are studied.