Numerical investigation of flow control of a circular cylinder using a synthetic jet actuator at the rear stagnation point
Öz
Context—Flow around circular cylinders remain a fundamental yet practically important problem in fluid mechanics due to its strong flow separation, unsteady wake formation, and associated pressure drag. In many engineering applications, particularly in aerospace and civil structures, reducing drag is essential for improving performance and energy efficiency. The Reynolds number considered in this study (Re = 2×105) lies within the critical regime for circular cylinders, where the boundary layer undergoes transition, and the wake structure becomes highly sensitive to external disturbances. Despite extensive research on synthetic jet actuators (SJAs) as an active flow control technique, their application at such critical Reynolds numbers has not been thoroughly investigated, and most existing studies focus on lower-Reynolds-number regimes or conventional configurations.
Objective—The primary objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a SJA positioned at the rear stagnation point of a circular cylinder operating in the critical Reynolds number regime. Specifically, the study aims to evaluate the influence of actuation frequency and momentum coefficient on drag reduction, wake dynamics, and vortex shedding behavior.
Method—A two-dimensional unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) approach coupled with the k-ω turbulence model was employed. The baseline case was first validated against reference experimental data for aerodynamic coefficients and pressure distribution. Subsequently, a parametric study was conducted by varying the non-dimensional frequency and momentum coefficient. Time-resolved analysis and phase-resolved flow visualizations were used to examine the interaction between the synthetic jet and the wake.
Results—The results indicate that synthetic jet actuation leads to a significant reduction in drag coefficient, with a maximum reduction of 19.4% under sub-harmonic forcing conditions. The flow transitions into a quasi-periodic regime after the initial transient phase, where the mean drag is reduced while maintaining unsteady fluctuations. The drag reduction mechanism is primarily associated with enhanced base pressure and periodic modification of the wake structure.
Conclusion—The findings demonstrate that SJAs can effectively control bluff body flows even within the critical Reynolds number regime when appropriate actuation parameters are selected. The study highlights the importance of frequency tuning and momentum input in achieving efficient flow control. Future work will focus on three-dimensional effects.
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Kaynakça
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Ayrıntılar
Birincil Dil
İngilizce
Konular
Makine Mühendisliğinde Sayısal Yöntemler
Bölüm
Araştırma Makalesi
Yazarlar
Barış Güngördü
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0000-0001-5192-3989
Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti
Erken Görünüm Tarihi
8 Haziran 2026
Yayımlanma Tarihi
-
Gönderilme Tarihi
30 Mart 2026
Kabul Tarihi
5 Mayıs 2026
Yayımlandığı Sayı
Yıl 2026 Sayı: Advanced Online Publication