Effect of sting size on the wake of a sphere at subcritical Reynolds numbers

Abstract

Vortex shedding and turbulent motion in the wake of a sphere that is supported using a streamwise-aligned cylindrical sting are investigated at a subcritical Reynolds number of Re=3800, using high speed particle image velocimetry. The mechanism by which the presence of a sting of increasing diameter relative to the diameter of the sphere influences the wake, in terms of both the small-scale shear instability and the larger wake instability, is explored and brie y compared with the two-dimensional analog of the splitter plate introduced into a cylinder wake. The difficulties associated with obtaining converged statistics, along with the effect of free stream turbulence and sphere vibrations are detailed. An understanding of the mechanism by which the blockage, or interference, arising from the presence of the sting influences cross-wake communication and downstream development is a necessary precursor to studies of active control of the wake using surface actuation on a sting-mounted sphere.

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