CFD ANALYSIS OF STEADY AND UNSTEADY FLOW AROUND SIDE-BY-SIDE SQUARE CYLINDERS

Abstract

A 2-D incompressible numerical investigation is conducted to analyse the steady and unsteady laminar flow and heat transfer characteristics in a confined channel with two square bars (of equal diameters) arranged side-by-side. The analysis is carried out for the Reynolds numbers, Re = 10 - 100 and Prandtl number of 0.7 and 50 for transverse separation distance between the bars (gap ratio), s/d = 1.5 - 10. The results found here are in good agreement with previously published data. The mean drag coefficient, lift coefficient and average Nusselt number, etc. are calculated for the above range of conditions. In addition to that the effects of the gap ratio and Reynolds number on the detailed kinematics of the flow (streamline patterns) and on the macroscopic parameters (drag and lift coefficients, Strouhal number) are presented in detail.