Defining a universal and continuous Strouhal–Reynolds number relationship for the laminar vortex shedding of a circular cylinder

Abstract

The existence of a discontinuity in the Strouhal–Reynolds number relationship for the laminar vortex shedding of a cylinder is found to be caused by a change in the mode of oblique shedding. By ‘‘inducing’’ parallel shedding (from manipulating end conditions) the resulting Strouhal curve becomes completely continuous and agrees very well with the oblique-shedding data, if it is transformed by S0=Sθ/cos θ (where Sθ is the Strouhal number corresponding with the oblique-shedding angle θ). The curve also agrees with data from a completely different facility. This provides evidence that this Strouhal curve (S0) is universal (for a circular cylinder).