Three-dimensional numerical investigation of vortex-induced vibration of a circular cylinder at low Reynolds number

Abstract Three-dimensional numerical investigations of vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of flexibly mounted rigid circular cylinder have been carried out using Open Source Field Operation And Manipulation (OpenFOAM). The cylinder is allowed to oscillate in both streamwise as well as cross-stream directions. The cylinder response and wake transition are studied by varying the mass damping parameter ( m ∗ ζ , 0.01 and 0.1) and Reynolds number (Re). The computations are conducted for a wide range of reduced velocities ( U r ), ranging from 3 to 8, at a fixed value of Re equal to 350. Furthermore, the effect of Re, varied from 250 to 400, on VIV is illustrated for a fixed value of U r = 4.5. The response of the cylinder in terms of streamwise and cross-stream displacements is examined in and outside the lock-in regime. The cylinder trajectories are found to be influenced by the change in U r , m ∗ ζ and Re. The dynamic characteristics are also disclosed with the change in U r , m ∗ ζ and Re. In order to capture the effect of Re on the wake transition of the circular cylinder undergoing VIV, the value of Re is varied from 250 to 400. Mode A instability is observed to be delayed due to VIV in comparison to that of the stationary cylinder.