NUMERICAL STUDIES ON VORTEX SHEDDING CHARACTERISTICS OF FLOW PAST CURVED SURFACES AT LOW REYNOLDS NUMBERS

Abstract

In this paper, numerical simulation results of two-dimensional flow over curved plates in laminar flow regime are presented. “S” shaped blade which is a combination of both concave and convex profile is studied. Strouhal number trends are reported for different curvature ratios (0 ≤ CR ≤ 1) by varying Reynolds number (40 ≤ Re ≤ 180). OpenFOAM^® was used for numerical simulations. Distinct vortex shedding patterns are observed. Unlike other bluff bodies, the variation of vortex shedding frequency is not found to increase with increasing Reynolds number.