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Wind and Structures
  Volume 40, Number 6, June 2025 , pages 459-474
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/was.2025.40.6.459
 


Effect of turbulence intensity on the aerodynamic forces and flow field characteristics of a circular cylinder at Re = 3900
Zhiheng Zhao, Weikang Li, Yinxuan Zhang, Qingkuan Liu and Hongmiao Jing

 
Abstract
    This study presents numerical simulation data for a flow over a cylinder subjected to turbulent inflow at Reynolds number of 3900; turbulence intensities ranging from 1.3% to 8.8% are considered. The influence of the turbulence intensity on the aerodynamic forces and flow field around the cylinder is comprehensively studied using the large eddy simulation approach. Key parameters such as the force coefficients, wind pressure distribution, Strouhal number, and instantaneous and average flow fields are analyzed to provide a theoretical reference for the designing and constructing cylindrical structures in turbulent environments. The results show that increasing the turbulence intensity suppresses vortex shedding and flow separation, causing an unstable vortex shedding frequency from the cylinder. Wake vortices exhibit multi-frequency shedding with high energy, and the mean drag coefficient increases linearly. The Strouhal number decreases sharply when the turbulence intensity reaches 7.5%. Additionally, the recirculation zone in the cylinder wake is reduced, negative pressure on the leeward and side surfaces increases, fluctuating pressure exhibits enhanced Gaussian characteristics, and disturbance of the cylinder to the flow field is weakened.
 
Key Words
     aerodynamic forces; flow around a circular cylinder; LES approach; NSRFG; turbulence intensity
 
Address
Zhiheng Zhao:Key Laboratory of Roads and Railway Engineering Safety Control (Shijiazhuang Tiedao University), Ministry of Education, China

Weikang Li:Key Laboratory of Roads and Railway Engineering Safety Control (Shijiazhuang Tiedao University), Ministry of Education, China

Yinxuan Zhang:Key Laboratory of Roads and Railway Engineering Safety Control (Shijiazhuang Tiedao University), Ministry of Education, China

Qingkuan Liu:1)Key Laboratory of Roads and Railway Engineering Safety Control (Shijiazhuang Tiedao University), Ministry of Education, China
2)School of Civil Engineering, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang 050043, China
3)Innovation Center for Wind Engineering and Wind Energy Technology of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050043, China

Hongmiao Jing:1)Key Laboratory of Roads and Railway Engineering Safety Control (Shijiazhuang Tiedao University), Ministry of Education, China
2)School of Civil Engineering, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang 050043, China
3)Innovation Center for Wind Engineering and Wind Energy Technology of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050043, China
 

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