Smoke observations of the wake of a group of three cylinders at low Reynolds number

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Abstract
A smoke visualization technique was used to study the laminar wake behind a group of three cylinders. The main characteristic of the interaction between the three cylinders was the appearance of strong sinuous oscillations some distance downstream in the wake, which led to the formation of a new single vortex street. The mechanism of the formation process of this vortex street and the part played in it by the sinuous oscillations is demonstrated by a series of photographs. The effects of variation of the spacing of the configuration have been examined in detail.In an interaction between three fully developed vortex streets, some of the rows of vortices crossed, and there was an extremely complicated re-arrangement of vorticity in the wake.Transition to turbulence in such wakes was also studied. The most interesting result observed was an asymmetric transition. Wakes were sometimes observed which were laminar on one side and turbulent on the other.

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