Dynamic interaction of fixed dual spheres for several configurations and inflow conditions

The changes in force characteristics as well as the shedding patterns for various dual sphere configurations are studied. The Reynolds numbers considered are 300, 600 and two different inflow conditions are used: steady and pulsating. The sphere formations are defined by the separation distance D-0 between the spheres and the angle between the line connecting the centres of the spheres and the main flow direction, gamma. The position of one of the spheres is varied in the range 0 degrees-90 degrees using a 15 degrees increment. Two separation distances are studied; 1.5D and 3D. The method used for the simulations is the Volume of Solid (VOS) approach, a method based on Volume of Fluid (VOF). A major conclusion from this work is that the sphere interaction alters the wake dynamics by obstructing the vortex shedding (generating a steady wake or a wake with lower Strouhal number) and by changing the direction of the lift force so that it in most cases is directed in the plane containing the sphere centres. The results also show that changing the inflow condition gives the same relative change in drag and lift as for a single sphere. The drag is substantially reduced by placing the sphere downstream in a tandem arrangement and slightly increased in a side-by-side arrangement. However, the effect is decreased by increasing separation distance and increasing Reynolds number. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.