Numerical computations of flow around three equilateral-triangular square cylinders with rounded corners using momentum exchange-based IB-LBM at low Reynolds numbers

In this study, the flow around three square cylinders with rounded corners in equilateral-triangular arrangements were investigated using the momentum exchange-based immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann method (IB-LBM) at low Reynolds (Re) numbers. The influences of Re number and gap ratio δ to the flow characteristics, force coefficients, and Strouhal (St) number were examined by selecting one hundred different gap ratios δ and forty different Re numbers. The wake flow patterns are divided into six distinct categories according to the gap ratio, these are single bluff-body, deflected, flip-flopping, anti-phase, anti-phase & in-phase coexist, and fully developed in-phase flow patterns. In addition, the Re number was also found to have a significant impact on the vortex shedding frequencies and flow properties. The drag coefficients, lift coefficients, and St number were calculated to demonstrate the relationship between vortex shedding properties, gap ratio, and Re numbers. The results revealed that the wake flow pattern, flow characteristics, and force coefficients depended significantly on the gap ratio and Re numbers. In addition, the power spectral density of the upstream cylinder were significantly lower than those of downstream cylinders for low gap ratios, and the mutual interference between each cylinders vanished as the gap ratio increased. •Flow investigated around three square cylinders with round corners using IB-LBM.•Flow investigated around three cylinders arranged in equilateral triangles.•Six distinct wake flow patterns identified depending on the gap ratio.•Flow characteristics and force coefficients depend on Re number and gap ratio.•Re number significantly impacts vortex shedding frequencies and flow properties.