Wake Interference Effects for Two Surface-Mounted Finite Cylinders in a Tandem Configuration

The mean wake of two identical surface-mounted finite-height circular cylinders arranged in a tandem configuration was investigated in a low-speed wind tunnel using a seven-hole pressure probe. The Reynolds number was Re = 2.4×10⁴, the cylinder aspect ratio was AR = 9, and the boundary layer thickness on the ground plane relative to the cylinder height was δ/H ≈ 0.4. Three centre-to-centre longitudinal pitch ratios of L/D = 1.125, 2, and 5 were examined, corresponding to the extended-body, reattachment, and co-shedding flow regimes, respectively. Reference measurements were also made in the wake of a single finite circular cylinder of AR = 9. For the tandem configurations, velocity measurements were made behind the downstream cylinder in two orthogonal vertical planes. Compared to the wake of the single surface-mounted finite-height circular cylinder, the mean downwash and upwash flows for the tandem cylinders, behind the downstream cylinder, were weaker, the mean recirculation zone behind the downstream cylinder was shorter, and the mean wake extended higher above the ground plane, for all three pitch ratios. Marked changes were also observed in the mean streamwise wake vortex structures, compared to the case of the single finite cylinder. For the extended-body and reattachment flow regimes, the tip vortex structures became elongated in the wall-normal direction. In the co-shedding regime, two sets of tip vortices were observed, with the second set possibly originating from the upstream cylinder.