Low-Reynolds-number flow around an oscillating circular cylinder using a cell viscous boundary element method

Flow fields from transversely oscillating circular cylinders in water at re st are studied by numerical solutions of the two-dimensional unsteady incom pressible Navier-Stokes equations adopting a primitive-variable formulation . These findings are successfully compared with experimental observations. The cell viscous boundary element scheme developed is first validated to ex amine convergence of solution and the influence of discretization within th e numerical scheme of study before the comparisons are undertaken. A hybrid approach utilising boundary element and finite element methods is adopted in the cell viscous boundary element method. That is, cell equations are ge nerated using the principles of a boundary element method with global equat ions derived following the procedures of finite element methods. The influe nce of key parameters, i.e. Reynolds number Re, Keulegan-Carpenter number K C and Stokes' number beta, on overall flow characteristics and vortex shedd ing mechanisms are investigated through comparisons with experimental findi ngs and theoretical predictions. The latter extends the study into assessme nt of the values of the drag coefficient, added mass or inertia coefficient with key parameters and the variation of lift and in-line force results wi th time derived from the Morison's equation. The cell viscous boundary elem ent method as described herein is shown to produce solutions which agree ve ry favourably with experimental observations, measurements and other theore tical findings. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.