Wake flow behind two side-by-side square cylinders

This study investigates the flow structures, form drag coefficients and vortex-shedding characteristics behind a single-square cylinder and two side-by-side cylinders in an open-loop wind tunnel. The Reynolds number (Re) and gap ratio (g∗) are 2262 < Re < 28,000 and 0 ⩽ g∗ ⩽ 12, respectively. The flow patterns around the square cylinders are determined using the smoke-wire scheme. Experimental results indicate that the flow structures behind two side-by-side square cylinders are classified into three modes – single mode, gap-flow mode and couple vortex-shedding. The gap-flow mode displays anti-phase vortex shedding induced from the interference between the two square cylinders. However, the couple vortex-shedding mode exhibits in-phase vortex shedding that is caused by the independent flow behavior behind each square cylinder. The surface-pressure profile, form drag coefficient for each square cylinder ( C D ¯ ) and vortex-shedding frequency were measured and calculated using a pressure transducer and a hot-wire anemometer. For two side-by-side cylinder configurations, the maximum C D ¯ of 2.24 occurs in the single mode, while the minimum C D ¯ of 1.68 occurs in the gap-flow mode. Additionally, the C D ¯ in the coupled vortex-shedding mode is intermediate and approximately equal to that of a single (isolated) square cylinder. Moreover, the single mode has the highest Strouhal number (St) and the gap-flow mode has the lowest St.