Numerical analysis of the flow separation and adverse pressure gradient in laminar boundary layer over a flat plate due to a rotating cylinder in the vicinity

Abstract Generation of adverse pressure gradient (APG) in the boundary layer over a plane wall using a rotating cylinder close to the wall has been numerically investigated for a range of the freestream Reynolds number (50 ≤ Re ≤ 400), the cylinder rotation rate (0 ≤ α ≤ 2), and the cylinder to wall gap (0.125 ≤ G / D ≤ 2). Various combinations of these flow parameters have been considered and the transient flow is computed using the ANSYS Fluent CFD code. The magnitude of the APG has been quantified. The influence of the freestream Reynolds number on the dynamics of flow separation and cylinder wake has been examined. Reynolds number has strong effect on bubble size properties and APG magnitude. Drag and lift force coefficient on the cylinder are also computed which are found to be strong function of the Reynolds number. Higher Reynolds number results in complex laminar separation bubble on the wall. A parametric demarcation map showing the threshold combinations of the flow parameters for transition from steady to periodic unsteady flow is generated.