An experimental investigation of the steady separated flow past a circular cylinder

Abstract

The steady separated flow past a circular cylinder was investigated experimentally. By artificially stabilizing the steady wake, this system was studied up to Reynolds numbers R considerably larger than any previously attained, thus providing a much clearer insight into the asymptotic character of such flows at high Reynolds numbers. Some of the experimental results were unexpected. It was found that the pressure coefficient at the rear of the cylinder remained unchanged for 25 [les ] R [les ] 177, that the circulation velocity within the wake approached a non-zero limit as the Reynolds number increased, and that the wake length increased in direct proportion to the Reynolds number.