Unit-Tests Based Validation and Verification of Numerical Procedure to Predict Vortex-Induced Motion

Vortex-induced vibration of a circular cylinder with two degrees-of-freedom (2-DOF) is numerically studied using a mixed Lagrangian-Eulerian approach at several Reynolds numbers. The computations were carried out using a parallelized finite-volume Navier-Stokes solver based on a multidimensional linear reconstruction scheme that allows use of unstructured meshes. The effects of turbulence are modeled using an approach based on unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations and a hybrid approach often referred to as detached eddy simulation (DES). In order to better understand the potential sources of the prediction error, a systematic verification and validation of the numerics and the physical models is attempted in this study with problems of progressively increasing complexity.