D. Yu et A. Kareem, 2-DIMENSIONAL SIMULATION OF FLOW AROUND RECTANGULAR PRISMS, Journal of wind engineering and industrial aerodynamics, 62(2-3), 1996, pp. 131-161
Pressure and velocity fields around rigid prisms of rectangular cross-
section are numerically simulated for a Reynolds number of 10(5) using
the large eddy simulation (LES). In conjunction with LES, a finite di
fference scheme is employed on the basis of a staggered grid, in which
the convection terms are discretized by the QUICK scheme. The outflow
boundary condition is then satisfied by the convection condition. Thi
s numerical scheme combined with the LES model offers a computationall
y efficient tool for simulating high Reynolds number flows around bluf
f bodies. The LES scheme employed in this study may be viewed as a coh
erent structure capturing technique to distinguish it from a true LES
in which the scales are generally resolved to very small size. The num
erical scheme is applied to calculate both the instantaneous velocity
and the pressure fields over the entire domain. In addition, the mean
and root mean square (RMS) values, the power spectra of the pressure f
luctuations on the prism surface, the integral forces (lift and drag f
orces) and probability densities of pressure fluctuations are presente
d. Additional calculations concerning the chordwise correlation of pre
ssure around the square prism and its eigenfunction expansion are pres
ented. Simulated results, including the mean velocity along the symmet
ry line, are then compared with the available experimental data and nu
merical results by other investigators. With the exception of the lift
and drag force spectra whose values do not match closely, and the pro
bability densities for which no experimental data were available, all
other features are observed to be in good agreement with experimental
findings. Streaklines are also employed to visualize the flow field ar
ound rectangular prisms and are found to match the vorticity contour o
f the flow held. Streakline sequences clearly demonstrate the shedding
of two vortices in every cycle of the integral lift force on the bluf
f body. The separation-reattachment features on the side faces of rect
angular prisms are also visualized. A parametric study concerning bodi
es of different aspect ratios illustrates clearly the modifications in
the flow field patterns which are sensitive to the streamwise length
of the body and the associated pressure distribution.