Computation of vortex shedding and radiated sound for a circular cylinder:Subcritical to transcritical Reynolds numbers

The Lighthill acoustic analogy combined with Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stoke s flow computations are used to investigate the ability of existing technol ogy to predict the tonal noise generated by vortex shedding from a circular cylinder for a range of Reynolds numbers (100 less than or equal to Re les s than or equal to 5 million). Computed mean drag, mean coefficient of pres sure, Strouhal number, and fluctuating lift are compared with experiment. T wo-dimensional calculations produce a Reynolds number trend similar to expe riment but incorrectly predict many of the flow quantities. Different turbu lence models give inconsistent results in the critical Reynolds number rang e (Re approximate to 100 000). The computed flow field is used as input for noise prediction. Two-dimensional inputs overpredict both noise amplitude and frequency; however, if an appropriate correlation length is used, predi cted noise amplitudes agree with experiment. Noise levels and frequency con tent agree much better with experiment when three-dimensional flow computat ions are used as input data.