PIV analysis of near-wake flow patterns of an ice-accreted bridge cable in low and moderately turbulent wind

Abstract

The study contributes to the explanation of flow behaviour and the basis of phenomena existing during two-dimensional airflow around an ice-accreted cylinder, representing the section model of a bridge cable. The geometrical features and flow characteristics of the near-wake flow patterns of the iced cable were investigated within the Reynolds number range of 2.2·10^4–6.4·10^4 in low and moderately turbulent flow. The experimental procedure was conducted to create ice accretion on the cylindrical model. The shape of the ice was registered using a photogrammetry method. For the aerodynamic investigations the ice-accreted model was reproduced at a smaller scale by means of 3D printing. Representative snapshots of the flow field behind the stationary horizontal simulated iced cable were digitally analyzed by the Particle Image Velocimetry technique. The flow visualization provided quantitative data about the velocity and the direction of flow streams within both the near-wake and the sidewise regions of distributed flow around the model. Evidence of the existence of the vortex excitation process was obtained at three principal angles of attack. The characteristics of the vortex street and the location of the flow boundary layer separation points were recognized. The obtained results were compared with results for a smooth cylinder.