Suppression of wake-induced vibration of tandem cylinders with free-to-rotate control plates

Experiments have been carried out on a pair of circular cylinders to investigate the effectiveness of pivoting parallel plates as wake-induced vibration suppressors. Measurements of amplitude of vibration and average drag are presented for a circular cylinder, free to respond in the cross-flow direction, with mass ratio 2 and a damping level of 0.7% of critical damping. Reduced velocities were up to nearly 30, with associated Reynolds numbers up to 2.3 x 10(4) and the results presented are for a centre-to-centre separation of cylinders of 4 diameters. It is shown how vortex-induced vibration and wake-induced vibration of the downstream cylinder of a tandem pair can be practically eliminated by using free to rotate parallel plates. The device achieves vibration suppression with a substantial drag reduction when compared to a pair of fixed tandem cylinders at the same Reynolds number. Results for a single splitter plate and helical strakes are also presented for comparison and were found not to be effective in suppressing wake-induced vibration. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.