Vortex shedding in flow past an inclined flat plate at high incidence

Abstract

The properties of asymmetric wake patterns behind a flat plate inclined at angles of attack 20°, 25°, and 30° are investigated. The Reynolds number based on the inflow velocity and the plate width is 1000. Both two-dimensional and three-dimensional calculations are performed by direct numerical simulations. Compared to the three-dimensional simulations, the two-dimensional calculations predict a significantly lower pressure on the rear surface of the plate, which consequently leads to very high drag and lift forces on the plate. The asymmetric mean wake flow, turbulence properties, and coherent patterns in the three-dimensional simulations are analysed by time- and phase-averaged techniques. Unlike the symmetric wake flow, the vortices shed from the leading and trailing edges of an inclined plate possess unequal strength with the trailing edge vortex having higher strength. It is observed that the present three-dimensional simulations predict results which compare well with the experimental data. In addition, wake instabilities in the form of oblique modes and vortex dislocations are observed in the 20° angle of attack case. It is found that this intrinsic instability is most likely due to the low incidence angle rather than the prevailing low Reynolds numbers.