Interference between two tandem cylinders of different diameters

This paper presents a detailed investigation of Strouhal frequencies, forces and flow structures resulting from the interference between two tandem cylinders of different diameters. The upstream cylinder diameter (d) was varied from 25 mm to 6 mm, while the downstream cylinder diameter (D) of 25 mm was unchanged, the corresponding diameter ratio, d/D, being 1.0 similar to 0.24. The spacing between the cylinders was 5.5d. At this spacing, the shear layers separated from the upstream cylinder roll up alternately, forming a vortex street in the gap between and behind the cylinders. Two dominant frequencies are detected behind the downstream cylinder at d/D = 1.0 similar to 0.4. One is the same as detected between the cylinders, and the other is of relatively low frequency and is probably generated by the downstream cylinder. Whilst the former remains unchanged, the latter increases with decreasing d/D, due to an increase in the incident flow velocity of the downstream cylinder. The time-averaged drag on the downstream cylinder also increases with decreasing d/D, though the fluctuating forces drop because vortices impinging upon the downstream cylinder are impaired by decreasing d/D.