RANS and hybrid LES/RANS simulations of flow over a square cylinder

Abstract Unsteady RANS (URANS), hybrid LES/RANS and IDDES simulations were conducted to numerically investigate the velocity field around, and pressures distribution and forces over a square cylinder immersed in a uniform, steady oncoming flow with Reynolds number Re = 21,400. The vortex shedding responses in terms of Strouhal number, the pressure distribution, the velocity profile and the velocity fluctuations obtained by numerical simulations are compared with experimental data. Compared with 2D URANS simulation, 3D simulations using hybrid LES/RANS and IDDES models provide more accurate prediction on the responses in the wake, including mean streamwise velocity profile and rms velocity fluctuations. This also results in more accurate prediction of time-averaged surface pressure coefficient on the rear surface obtained by 3D hybrid LES/RANS and IDDES simulations than by URANS simulation. When a hybrid LES/RANS model or IDDES model is used, a more accurate prediction for either pressure coefficient or velocity profile (especially in the far wake region) is not guaranteed by increasing the mesh resolution along the spanwise direction of the square cylinder.