RANS simulations of the U and V grooves effect in the subcritical flow over four rotated circular cylinders

Abstract This paper presents a CFD study about the effect of the V and U grooves in the flow over four cylinders in diamond shape configuration at subcritical flow conditions ( Re = 41 000). The k – ɛ Realizable turbulence model was implemented to fully structured hexahedral grids with near-wall refinements. Results showed that the numerical model was able to reproduce the impinging flow pattern and the repulsive forces present in the lateral cylinders of the smooth cylinder array. As a consequence of the flow alignment induced by the grooves, a jet-flow is formed between the lateral cylinders, which could cause an important vortex induced vibration effect especially in the rear cylinder. The magnitudes of the shear stresses at the valleys and peaks for the V grooved cylinders were lower than those of the U grooved cylinders, but the separation points were delayed due the U grooves presence. It is discussed the presence of a blowing effect caused by counter-rotating eddies located near the grooves peaks that cause a decrease of the shear stresses in the valleys, and promote them at the peaks.