Scale-Resolving Simulations (SRS) of a Square Cylinder undergoing Vortex-Induced Motion

The flow past a fixed square cylinder is an ideal configuration for benchmarking and validating scale-resolving simulations (SRS) and other computational turbulence approaches. This is due to the fact that the fixed flow separation location enables expedited analysis of unsteady vortex shedding and coherent structure generation. Flow past a square cylinder which is oscillating due to vortex-induced motion (flow-structure interaction) is of practical significance in a variety of ocean engineering applications. It is an ideal test case for studying fluid-structure interactions and the effects of vortex-induced motion. In this work, we perform simulations of flow past a square cylinder with and without free oscillations using the partially-averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) SRS k-ω turbulence approach. We examine the effects of varying degrees of freedom of cylinder oscillations on vortex shedding and coherent structures in the wake. We also investigate the effects of different types of oscillations on flow statistics and integral quantities, such as Strouhal number, unsteady recirculation length, and coefficients of lift and drag. These simulations are performed at low to moderate Reynolds number regime.