Active control of a circular cylinder flow at transitional Reynolds numbers

Active and passive control of flow around a circular cylinder, at transitional Reynolds numbers was investigated experimentally by measuring cylinder surface pressures and wake velocity profiles. Two- and three-dimensional passive boundary layer tripping was considered and periodic active control using piezo-fluidic actuators was introduced from a two-dimensional slot that was nearly tangential to the cylinder surface. The slot location was varied circumferentially by rotating the cylinder and this facilitated either upstream- or downstream-directed actuation using sinusoidal or modulated wave-forms. Separation was controlled by two distinct methods, namely: by forcing laminar-turbulent transition when applied at relatively small angles (30-60 degrees) from the forward stagnation point; and by directly forcing the separated shear-layer at larger angles. In the latter case, actuation produced the largest load changes when it was introduced at approximately 90 degrees from the forward stagnation point. When the forcing frequency was close to the natural vortex-shedding frequency, the two frequencies "locked-in" creating clear and persistent structures. These were examined and categorized. The "lock-in" effect lowered the base pressure and increased the form-drag whereas delaying separation from the cylinder did the opposite.