A Numerical Analysis of Fluid Flow Around Circular and Square Cylinders

Abstract

Fluid flow around bluff bodies such as circular and rectangular (square) cross‐sections is a fundamental fluid mechanics problem and has been a popular focus of research for many years. Several engineering applications—including offshore structures, bridge piers, and pipelines—can be modeled as cylinders. This study numerically investigated the flow field around cylinders of the same characteristic length under identical flow conditions ranging from laminar (Reynolds number [Re] = 2) to turbulent (Re = 4 × 10 6 ). Two‐dimensional simulation analyses were performed using the shear stress transport k‐omega turbulence closure model and commercial software. Simulation results showed good agreement with the literature. Cylinder shape was found to significantly affect the flow field. Under the same initial flow conditions, wake downstream of the square cylinder was found to be much more turbulent than that of the circular one. In addition, as Re increased, the turbulence of the wake flow increased and its length downstream of the cylinders increased.