Assessment of Numerical Lift Coefficient Data for a Circular Cylinder with Application to Bladeless Turbines

Abstract

We assess computed lift coefficient data for flow past a circular cylinder to evaluate their suitability for practical applications. Specifically, we consider lift coefficient data for a circular cylinder over Reynolds numbers from 120 to 8000. The results are obtained from two-dimensional finite element simulations of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations using pressure robust discretizations. We compare the computed lift coefficients with published experimental and numerical results, finding good agreement in some cases but significant disagreement in others. Because lift fluctuations are central to vortex-induced vibration concepts, these data therefore provide input for the analysis and preliminary design of bladeless turbines.