Numerical Simulation of Flow Arround a Circular Cylinder

Abstract

A two dimensional numerical simulation of flow past a circular cylinder has been performed for a Reynolds number of 20. Navier-Stokes equations, the continuity equation in dimensionless form using velocity-pressure formulation are considered for the study of the both steady and unsteady flow problem. Finite element method using residual Galerkin method is used to solve the steady state flow problem. An explicit time marching scheme of approximate factorization for the solution of unsteady Navier-Stokes equations for the velocity field is used while the pressure field is computed from Poisson equation. Both studies show the presence of a two symmetrical wakes downstream attached to the cylinder and are in the close vicinity of the back of the cylinder. The wakes remain stable and do not shed vortices in the flow. Present computations for both the steady and unsteady problems are in good agreement with the experimental observations and the numerical calculations by several investigators.