CFD Simulation of Vortex Induced Vibration of a Cylindrical Structure

Abstract

This thesis presents the investigation of the flow characteristic and vortex induced vibration (VIV) of a cylindrical structure due to the incompressible laminar and turbulent flow at Reynolds number 40, 100, 200 and 1000. The simulations were performed by solving the steady and transient (unsteady) 2D Navier-Stokes equation. For Reynolds number 40, the simulations were set as a steady and laminar flow and the SIMPLE and QUICK were used as the pressure-velocity coupling scheme and momentum spatial discretization respectively. Moreover, the transient turbulent flow was set for Re 100, 200 and 1000 and SIMPLE and LES (large Eddies Simulation) were selected as the pressure-velocity coupling solution and the turbulent model respectively. The drag and lift coefficient (Cd and Cl) were obtained and verified to the previous studies and showed a good agreement. Whilst the vibration frequency (fvib), the vortex shedding frequency (fv), the Strouhal number (St) and the amplitude of the vibration (A) were also measured.