Three-dimensional flow around two circular cylinders of different diameters in a close proximity

Flow past two cylinders of different diameters in close proximity is simulated numerically for a constant diameter ratio of 0.45, a gap ratio of 0.0625, and a Reynolds number of 1000 (defined using the diameter of the main cylinder). The effect of the position angle α of the small cylinder relative to the large one on force coefficients and wake flow patterns are studied. Depending on the position angle α of the small cylinder, four wake flow modes are identified: the upstream interference mode for α = 0°, 22.5°, and 45°, and 45°, the intermittent attached gap flow mode for α = 67.5° and 90°, the attached gap flow mode for α = 112.5° and 135°, and the wake interference mode for α = 157.5° and 180°. The RMS lift coefficients of both cylinders are reduced significantly compared with that of a single cylinder, regardless of the position angle of the small cylinder. Although the variation trends of the mean drag and lift coefficients with the position angle of the small cylinder obtained from the two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) simulations are similar, the 2D simulations overestimate the mean drag coefficient, the RMS drag and lift coefficients compared with those obtained from the 3D simulations.