Free vibrations of two tandem elastically mounted cylinders in crossflow

The paper presents an experimental investigation on the flow-induced vibrations of two tandem circular cylinders for spacing ratio $L/D=1.2{-}6.0$ and reduced velocity $U_{r}=3.8{-}47.8$ , where $L$ is the cylinder centre-to-centre spacing and $D$ is the cylinder diameter. Both cylinders are allowed to vibrate only laterally. Extensive measurements are conducted to capture the cylinder vibration and frequency responses, surface pressures, shedding frequencies and flow fields using laser vibrometer, hotwire, pressure scanner and PIV techniques. Four vibration regimes are identified based on the characteristics and generation mechanisms of the cylinder galloping vibrations. Several findings are made on the mechanisms of vibration generation and sustainability. First, the initial states (vibrating or fixed) of a cylinder may have a pronounced impact on the vibration of the other. Second, alternating reattachment, detachment, rolling up and shedding of the upper and lower gap shear layers all contribute to the vibrations. Third, the gap vortices around the base surface of the upstream cylinder produce positive work on the cylinder, sustaining the upstream cylinder vibration. Fourth, reattachment, detachment and switching of the gap shear layers result in largely positive work on the downstream cylinder, playing an important role in sustaining its vibration.