THE CONTROL OF VORTEX SHEDDING BEHIND HEATED CIRCULAR-CYLINDERS AT LOW REYNOLDS-NUMBERS

We report some experiments undertaken to investigate the control of vortex shedding behind electrically heated cylinders at low Reynolds numbers owing to the heat input brought to the cylinder. In airflow, depending on the Reynolds number value, complete suppression or modification of the vortex shedding phenomenon can be achieved with increase of heat input. Experimental results suggest that this control could result of a slight change of the separation point location due to the increase of the dynamic viscosity of the fluid.