Transverse FIV suppression of square cylinder using two control rods of varying size and distance in lock-in and galloping regions

Purpose) In this study, for the first time, the efficacy of control rods for full suppression of vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) and galloping of an elastically supported rigid square cylinder that vibrates freely in the cross-flow direction is investigated. Design/methodology/approach To this aim, two small control rods are placed at constant angles of +/- 45 degrees relative to the horizontal axis and then the influence of diameter and spacing ratios on the oscillation and hydrodynamic response along with the vortex structure behind the cylinder is evaluated in the form of nine different cases in both VIV and galloping regions. Findings The performed simulations show that using the configuration presented in this study results in full VIV suppression for the spacing ratios G/D = 0.5, 1 and 1.5 at the diameter ratios d/D = 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 (D: diameter of square cylinder, G: distance between rods and cylinder, d: diameter of rods). On the contrary, a perfect attenuation of galloping is only achieved at the largest diameter (d/D = 0.3) and the smallest spacing ratio (G/D = 0.5). In general, for both VIV and galloping regions, with increasing diameter ratio and decreasing spacing ratio, the effect of the control rods wake in the vortex street of square cylinder gradually increases. This trend carries on to the point where the vortex shedding is completely suppressed and only the symmetric wake of control rods is observed. Originality/value So far, the effect of rod control on VIV of a square cylinder and its amplitude of oscillations has not been investigated.