Simulation of Low-Reynolds Number Flow Around an Oscillated Cylinder Using Two Computational Methods

The two-dimensional flow around a circular cylinder oscillated in-line and transverse to the main stream at low Reynolds numbers is investigated numerically using a 2D in-house code (Baranyi, 2008) based on a finite difference solution (FDM). A second CFD approach, the commercial software FLUENT based on the finite volume method (FVM), uses equivalent oscillatory flow to perform computations for the same conditions. Here we investigate the Reynolds numbers of Re=100, 120, 140 and 160 using two computational domains characterized by R₂/R₁ = 60 and 360. Computations are carried out at two frequency ratios of f/St₀ = 0.8 and 0.9 for different oscillation amplitude values in the lock-in domain. Both methods analyze flow properties such as drag, lift and mechanical energy transfer between the fluid and the cylinder for both transverse and in-line cylinder motions. Computational results obtained using the two methods for both type of cylinder motions agree well.