Numerical Simulation of an Oscillating Cylinder in Cross-Flow at a Reynolds Number of 10,000: Forced and Free Oscillations

In the present work, numerical simulations of flow past a circular cylinder in uniform cross-flow are investigated for three different cases: (i) a stationary cylinder, (ii) forced oscillations of a cylinder and (iii) free oscillations of a cylinder. All three cases were studied using a 2D CFD RANS code, at a Reynolds number Re = 10,000. The method adopted here is based on the Finite Volume Method using the commercial CFD package Ansys Fluent 14 with appropriate turbulence models. Comparisons with available experimental and numerical data, for all cases investigated, show that the simulations capture essential features of the fluid-structure interaction. These comparisons include drag and lift coefficients, Strouhal number, pressure distribution, as well as amplitude of motion and frequency ratio.