A study of three-dimensional aspects of vortex shedding from a bluff body with a mild geometric disturbance

Experiments have been carried out to study the three-dimensional characteristics of vortex shedding from a half-ellipse shape with a blunt trailing edge. In order to control the occurrence of vortex dislocations, the trailing edges of the models used were constructed with a series of periodic waves across their spans. Flow visualization was carried out in a water tunnel at a Reynolds number of 2500, based on trailing-edge thickness. A number of shedding modes were observed and the sequence of mode transitions recorded. Quantitative data were obtained from wind tunnel measurements performed at a Reynolds number of 40000. Two shedding frequencies were recorded with the higher frequency occurring at spanwise positions coinciding with minima in the chord. At these same positions the base pressure was lowest and the vortex formation length longest. Arguments are put forward to explain these observations. It is shown that the concept of a universal Strouhal number holds, even when the flow is three-dimensional. The spanwise variation in time-average base pressure is predicted using the estimated amount of time the how spends at the two shedding frequencies.