Large-eddy simulation of vortex-excited force on a square cylinder with transverse wind fluctuations

Abstract

Abstract This study utilized 3D Large-eddy simulation to investigate the crosswind drag force on a square cylinder subjected to transverse wind fluctuation. Two distinct methods were employed to generate the fluctuation: a prescribed sine function at the inlet boundary and an upwind barrier. The frequency was normalized in the same Strouhal number form. The transverse wind fluctuation with a normalized frequency above 0.05 tends to excite the square cylinder transversely with the same frequency band. The frequency effect also exists on the square cylinder located downwind an obstacle half the square cylinder’s size. However, an obstacle 2.5 times the size of the square cylinder generates a cross-wind fluctuation with the normalized frequency of 0.04, which cannot excite the square cylinder transversely. The frequency effect from the upwind barrier significantly dampens with the distance and disappears at 8–10 times the square cylinder size.