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Computation of three‐dimensional flow around square and circular piers
Author(s) -
Tseng MingHseng,
Yen ChinLien,
Song Charles C. S.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international journal for numerical methods in fluids
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.938
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1097-0363
pISSN - 0271-2091
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0363(20001015)34:3<207::aid-fld31>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - pier , vortex , turbulence , wake , flow (mathematics) , square (algebra) , vortex shedding , horseshoe vortex , mechanics , geometry , mathematics , physics , vortex ring , engineering , structural engineering , reynolds number
The aim of the present study is to investigate, by numerical simulation, the three‐dimensional turbulent flow field around square and circular piers. The numerical model employs a finite volume method based on MacCormack's explicit predictor–corrector scheme to solve weakly compressible hydrodynamic equations for turbulent flow. Computed results are compared with Dargahi's experimental measurements to assess the validity of the proposed model. Very good agreements are obtained. The results of flow simulation indicate that near the upstream face of the pier there exists a downflow, which joins the separated flow to form the horseshoe vortex stretched around the pier. This horseshoe vortex interacts with the wake vortex to create the upflow behind the pier. These phenomena appear to be very important to the mechanism of scouring around the pier. In general, the flow patterns for the square and circular piers are similar. However, the strengths of the downflow and horseshoe vortex are greater in the case of the square pier. The position of the horseshoe vortex around the circular pier is closer to the front face than that around the square pier. In the meantime, the domain of the wake flow in the case of the square pier is greater than that in the case of the circular one. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.