Influence of obstacle aspect ratio on tripped cylinder wakes

The influence of an asymmetrically mounted, single tripwire on the shedding and wake characteristics of a vertical, surface-mounted finite circular cylinder is investigated experimentally. Height-to-diameter aspect ratios of 3 and 6 are considered. It is shown that a critical position for the tripwire exists, which is characterised in an abrupt change in the shedding frequency and wake structure. Results further suggest that the tripwire can strengthen 2D wake properties. The influence of the aspect ratio is due to tip-wake flow interactions and thus differs fundamentally from two-dimensional geometries.

► Influence of a tripwire on wake properties of a surface-mounted circular cylinder.
► Height-to-diameter aspect ratios of 3 and 6 are considered.
► Critical positions for the tripwire lead to an abrupt change in the wake structure.
► Results further suggest that the tripwire can strengthen 2D wake properties.