Multistability and symmetry breaking in the two-dimensional flow around a square cylinder

Abstract

We use numerical methods to study two-dimensional flow passing a square cylinder at low Reynolds numbers, and observe period-1 and -3 vortices behind the cylinder at the same Reynolds number Re. When Re increases from a small number to a critical value Re(c) approximately equal to 320, the system could change from bistability, which maintains the spatial symmetry, to tristability, which breaks the spatial symmetry. Our results suggest many interesting problems for further studies.