Numerical simulation of a flow around an impulsively started radially deforming circular cylinder

The development of a two-dimensional viscous incompressible flow generated by a deformable circular cylinder impulsively started into rectilinear moti on is studied numerically for the Reynolds numbers equal to 550 and 3000. T he vorticity transport equation is solved by a second-order finite differen ce method in both directions of the domains. The Poisson equation for the s treamfunction is solved by a Fourier-Galerkin method in the direction of th e flow that is assumed to remain symmetrical and a second-order finite diff erence for the radial direction. The advance in time is achieved by a secon d-order Adams-Bashforth scheme. The computed results are compared qualitati vely with experimental and numerical results done before in the particular non-deformable case. The comparison is found to be satisfactory. The influe nce of the deformation of the cylinder on the flow structure and the drag c oefficient is then analyzed. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.