Application of potential theory to steady flow past two cylinders in tandem arrangement (Q1718543)

Summary: The wake flow patterns associated with flow past a cylinder and a cylinder-pair in tandem configuration are revisited, compared, and evaluated with respect to the streamline patterns generated based on potential flow theory and superposition of various potential flow elements. The wakes, which are vortex shedding in the lee of the cylinder(s), are reproduced by placing pairs of equal but opposite circulation elements in the potential flow field. The strength of the circulation elements determines the size of the vortices produced. The streamline patterns of flow past a pair of unequal cylinders in tandem configuration provide an indirect means to establish the threshold condition for the wake transition from that of a single bluff body to alternating reattachment behavior. This threshold condition is found to be a function of the diameter ratio, \(d / D\) (diameters \(d\) and \(D\), \(d \leq D\)), spacing ratio, \(L / D\) (centre-to-centre distance, \(L\), to cylinder diameter, \(D\)), and equivalent incident flow speed, \(U\). A unique functional relationship \(f(L / D, d / D, U)\) of this threshold condition is established.