Effects of an asymmetrical confined flow on a rectangular cylinder

The effects of an asymmetric confined flow on a cylinder of rectangular cross-section are investigated and discussed. Experiments are performed in a wind tunnel by placing cylinders of different cross-sections at various elevations from the floor of the test-section. The Reynolds number is varied within the range 6×103–4×104. Forces exciting the cylinder are measured by built-in dynamometers placed inside the cylinder structure. The flow is characterized by mean and fluctuating local velocity components to define the inflow distribution and the ensuing wake region. The mean dimensionless force coefficients are then calculated and analyzed. The frequency analysis of the force components acting on the cylinder provides the dynamic characterization of the loading and of the wake shedding. The experimental results highlight that the presence of the wall strongly influences the system dynamics also when the cylinder is placed at a relatively large elevation from the wall itself. The cylinder aspect ratio governs effects of the wall condition on the force coefficients and the Strouhal number.