High-Reynolds-Number Flow past a Pipe

The present aim is to reveal the flow past a pipe which is immersed parallel to the mainstream at high Reynolds numbers. In a wind tunnel, we carry out (1) base-pressure measurements, (2) velocity-fluctuation measurements using a hot-wire anemometer and (3) flow visualisations by a smoke-wire method with PIV analyses, where we take consecutive picutures using a high-speed camcorder to obtain quantitative flow-field information such as velocity vector and vorticity. The tested parameter ranges are as follows: Re = 2.0×103 - 1.3×104, d/t = 4.0 - 10.0 and l/t = 1.0 - 10.0, where Re, d, t and l are the Reynolds number, mean diameter, thickness and length of the pipe, respectively. As a result, the Re effects are negligible. The base-suction coefficient -Cpb monotonically decreases with decreasing d/t, or with increasing l/t. We propose a unified formula to predict -Cpb, which are consistent with both a two-dimensional prism and a rod for l/t < 4.0 in addition to a ring. In contrast, the Strouhal number St almost coincides with that for a two-dimensional prism at any l/t, if we can detected any dominant frequencies. In addition, we conduct flow visualisations, and reveal the effects upon axisymmetry of wake. Finally, we classify the flow into three modes based on both periodicity and axisymmetry. Such a modal classification reveals that the enhancement of flow's irregularity corresponds to the decrease of -Cpb.