International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow 32 (2011) 41–51

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International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ijhff

Wake flow behind two side-by-side square cylinders

Shun C. Yen ⇑, Jung H. Liu
Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan, ROC

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: This study investigates the flow structures, form drag coefficients and vortex-shedding characteristics
Received 9 November 2009 behind a single-square cylinder and two side-by-side cylinders in an open-loop wind tunnel. The Rey-
Received in revised form 17 September nolds number (Re) and gap ratio (g) are 2262 < Re < 28,000 and 0 6 g 6 12, respectively. The flow pat-
2010
terns around the square cylinders are determined using the smoke-wire scheme. Experimental results
Accepted 20 September 2010
Available online 14 October 2010
indicate that the flow structures behind two side-by-side square cylinders are classified into three modes
– single mode, gap-flow mode and couple vortex-shedding. The gap-flow mode displays anti-phase vortex
shedding induced from the interference between the two square cylinders. However, the couple vor-
Keywords:
Side-by-side square cylinders
tex-shedding mode exhibits in-phase vortex shedding that is caused by the independent flow behavior
Surface pressure behind each square cylinder. The surface-pressure profile, form drag coefficient for each square cylinder
Gap-flow (C D ) and vortex-shedding frequency were measured and calculated using a pressure transducer and a
hot-wire anemometer. For two side-by-side cylinder configurations, the maximum C D of 2.24 occurs in
the single mode, while the minimum C D of 1.68 occurs in the gap-flow mode. Additionally, the C D in
the coupled vortex-shedding mode is intermediate and approximately equal to that of a single (isolated)
square cylinder. Moreover, the single mode has the highest Strouhal number (St) and the gap-flow mode
has the lowest St.
Ó 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction width-to-height ratio = 1. Robichaux et al. (1999) numerically

The flow around a bluff body has attracted considerable inter-
est. Cylinders with a square/rectangular cross-section are com-
monly used in such architectural structures as buildings, bridge
decks, monuments, cross-flow heat exchangers and others. A cylin-
der body induces various instantaneous unsteady effects such as
separation, reattachment bubble, shear-layer instability, and vor-
tex shedding when the flow moves around it. Numerous studies
have employed flow visualization schemes and hot wire measure-
ment to measure flow patterns behind the cylinders. Roshko
(1954), Lyn et al. (1995), Williamson (1996), and Luo et al.
(2003) performed pioneering work on irregular vortex shedding
and turbulent properties.
Many studies have focused on a single-square cylinder and elu-
cidated its properties, such as vortex shedding in the wake, the
drag coefficient (CD), flow patterns and other characteristics.
Okajima (1982) analyzed the vortex-shedding frequency behind
the rectangular cylinders by varying the width-to-height ratio
and Reynolds number (Re) of 70 < Re < 2  104. He concluded that
the Strouhal number (St) is 0.13 for 104 < Re < 2  104 while the
⇑ Corresponding author. Address: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic
Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University, No. 2, Pei-Ning Road, Keelung,
Taiwan, ROC. Tel.: +886 2 2462 2192x3215; fax: +886 2 2462 0836.
E-mail address: scyen@mail.ntou.edu.tw (S.C. Yen).
solved the flow transition of a square cylinder and performed
two-dimensional (2D) simulations at 70 < Re < 300. They identified
three possible time-averaged mean streamline patterns in the 2D
shedding state – (a) no flow separation on the side surfaces, (b)
separation and reattachment on the side surfaces, and (c) separa-
tion at the leading edges but no reattachment on the side surfaces.
Many studies have applied the two-cylinder flow-control mech-
anism to reduce the flow drag. Zdravkovich (1977) reviewed the
flow interference between two circular cylinders placed in tandem,
side by side and in a staggered arrangement to examine flow pat-
terns, lift/drag ratio, pressure distribution, velocity profiles and
vortex shedding. Williamson (1985) adopted various flow visuali-
zation methods to elucidate the flow field behind two side-by-side
cylinders. He found that the vortex-shedding synchronizes at
1.0 < g < 5.0, where g is the gap ratio, which is the ratio of the
spacing between the cylinder surfaces to the diameter of the cylin-
der. The vortex-shedding synchronization generates two parallel
vortex streets in counter phase of which one is in-phase and the
other is anti-phase. When g < 1.0, the certain harmonic modes of
vortex-shedding existed behind the two circular cylinders. In the
harmonic modes, the vortex pairs from the gap and these vortices
are squeezed and merged with the dominant outer vortices. Kolar
et al. (1997) probed the ensemble average characteristics of a
near-wake flow around two side-by-side identical square cylinders
at Re  23,100. They identified the enhanced vortex motion and

0142-727X/$ - see front matter Ó 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.ijheatfluidflow.2010.09.005
42 S.C. Yen, J.H. Liu / International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow 32 (2011) 41–51

Nomenclature

a lateral spacing between the successive vortices in the Re Reynolds number (=u1w/m)
same train St Strouhal number (=f w/u1)
 pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
b transverse spacing between two vortex trains ðu02 þv 02 Þ=2
TI turbulence intensity ¼ pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
CD form drag coefficient U 2 þV 2
u1 free-stream velocity
CD average form drag coefficient for each square cylinder
U x-component of mean velocity
(=(sum  CD)/2)
V y-component of mean velocity
C D;rms average root-mean-square form drag coefficient for
u0 x-component of velocity fluctuation
each square cylinder (=(sum CD,rms)/2) 
Cp surface-pressure coefficient ¼ ðp  pfs Þ 0:5  qu21
v0 y-component of velocity fluctuation
w width of square cylinder, 2 cm
Cp,rms root-mean-square
 qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi surface-pressure
 coefficient x streamwise coordinate
 
¼ ðp  p Þ2 0:5  qu21 y spanwise coordinate
q air density
f vortex-shedding frequency (Hz) m kinetic viscosity of air
g gap spacing between two cylinder surfaces
g* gap ratio (=g/w) Subscripts
p local static pressure on the cylinder surface Single single mode

p average static pressure on the cylinder surface Gap gap-flow mode
pfs static pressure of free stream Couple couple vortex-shedding mode

found that the average vortex speed in the base region was signif-
icantly high, even in the eventual near-wake equilibrium state in
which the vortex speed was low. The Strouhal number slightly ex-
ceeded that associated with a single-square cylinder. However,
other studies have indicated that St for a single-square cylinder
equals that for two identical square cylinders. Inoue et al. (2006)
employed a finite difference method to solve 2D unsteady com-
pressible Navier–Stokes equations for two side-by-side square
cylinders. They identified six wake patterns (non-synchronized,
anti-phase, in-phase synchronized, flip-flopping, single bluff body
and steady) using various spacing ratios.
This work concentrates on the characteristic flow fields and
flow behaviors around two side-by-side identical square cylinders.
The effects of Re and gap spacing between two square cylinders
were examined. The behaviors and flow patterns were also eluci-
dated using the smoke-wire scheme. Additionally, the surface
pressure and vortex-shedding frequency were probed using a pres-
sure transducer and a hot-wire anemometer. Moreover, the form
drag coefficient was determined using the surface-pressure profile.
This study has the following objectives: (1) to elucidate the inter-
action between two identical side-by-side square cylinders, (2) to
evaluate the form drag coefficient using the measured surface-
pressure profile, and (3) to probe the vortex-shedding frequency
behind the square cylinders.
2. Experiment
2.1. Experimental setup
The experiments were conducted in an open-loop wind tunnel,
as schematically depicted in Fig. 1. Dimensions of the test section
were 50  50  120 cm (width  height  length), with a free-
stream turbulent intensity of <0.4% for 0.56 < u1 < 45 m/s, where
u1 is the free-stream velocity. The free-stream velocity was mon-
itored using a Pitot tube that was connected to a U-tube manome-
ter. The non-uniformity of average-velocity profile across the test
section was <0.5%. In the test section, a polished aluminum-alloy
plate was set as the test-section floor and three highly transparent
acrylic panels were installed as the ceiling and side walls for pho-
tography and visualization.
2.2. Square-cylinder model
The square cylinders were manufactured from an acrylic bar.
The dimensions of square cylinder were 50  2  2 cm (span 
width  height). The aspect ratio was therefore 25, referencing
the results of West and Apelt (1982) and Szepessy and Bearman
(1992). These two identical square cylinders were arranged as dis-
played in the inset in Fig. 1. The flow visualization plane was lo-
cated at the mid-plane of the acrylic square cylinder bar to
reduce the three-dimensional (3D) flow effects.
2.3. Smoke-wire scheme
The flow patterns were visualized using the smoke-wire
scheme, which was adopted by Yen and Hsu (2007). A zigzag tung-
sten wire with a diameter of 0.3 mm was placed in front of the
square cylinder at a distance of x/w = 0.1. The zigzag structure
was used to control the thickness and spacing of smoke streaks.
A thin layer of mineral oil was brush-coated on the tungsten-wire
surface, and then electrically heated to form a plain smoke-streak
field. The Reynolds number, based on the tungsten-wire diameter
was maintained below 40 to prevent vortex shedding behind the
wire (Mueller, 2000). The oil-aerosol diameter measured using a
Malvern 1600C Laser Particle Analyzer was 1.7 ± 0.3 lm. Therefore,
for 1.8 < u1 < 9.8 m/s, the Stokes number (Hinds, 1982) is from
3.24  104 to 1.76  103, which is much lower than 1. The Stokes
number utilized in this investigation is defined as Stk = su1/w,
where s is the relaxation time for oil aerosols (s = 3.6  106 s)
(Hinds, 1982) and w is the width of square cylinder. Consequently,
the smoke streaks were considered to follow the flow properly. Fi-
nally, these smoke streaks were illuminated by a 0.5 mm-thick la-
ser-light sheet which was focused on the mid-plane of the square
cylinder bar. The 2D streak images were recorded on a computer at
a frame rate of 30 frames/s (fps) using a CCD camera and a high-
quality image grabber.
2.4. Pressure transducer
Thirty-two pressure taps were distributed around the mid-
plane of each square cylinder. The diameter of pressure tap is
1 mm and the spacing between two adjacent taps is 0.8 mm. A
 S.C. Yen, J.H. Liu / International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow 32 (2011) 41–51 43

short stainless steel tube was tightly inserted into the hole of each Co., Model 264) with the maximum measurable pressure of
tap from the inside surface of the hollow square cylinder and then ±1245 N/m2 was applied to scan the surface pressure. A computer
connected to a plastic polyester tube. A pressure transducer (Setra was utilized to control the pressure scanner to detect the distribution

Fig. 1. Experimental setup.

Fig. 2. Profile-view of smoke-streak flow patterns around square cylinders at Re = 2262. Exposure time: 1/2000s.
44 S.C. Yen, J.H. Liu / International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow 32 (2011) 41–51
of surface pressure. The detected voltages were transformed to the
pressure signal using a data logger (Model KUSB-3116, Keithley
Co.) which provides the maximum sampling rates of 500 k Sam-
ples/s. The pressure acquisition system started at the 10th second
of the through-time and elapsed for 10 s. In order to justify the dy-
namic pressure measurements, the sampling rate and record
length were set at 4000 Hz and thereby 40,000 samples was re-
corded. For the highest vortex-shedding frequency of 210 Hz
occurring in this investigation, this sampling rate (i.e., 4000 Hz)
satisfies the Nyquist criterion.
Fig. 3. Schematic sketches of smoke-streak flow patterns.
2.5. Hot-wire anemometry
The vortex-shedding frequency and velocity properties were
examined using a hot-wire sensor (TSI 1210-T1.5) and X-type
hot-wire sensor (cross type, TSI 1240-T1.5), respectively. Further-
more, the output signals of hot-wire sensor were imported into a
FFT analyzer (ONO SOKKI Co., Model CF-920). The diameter and
length of the hot wire were 5 lm and 1.5 mm, respectively, ensur-
ing the dynamic response between 15 and 25 kHz. The hot-wire-
anemometer signals were fed simultaneously into an FFT analyzer
and a high-speed PC-based data-acquisition system.
2.6. Error analysis
The measurement accuracy of free-stream velocity was affected
primarily by the alignment of the Pitot tube and calibration of the
pressure transducer. With applying a synchronized micro-pressure
calibration system and careful alignment of the Pitot tube, the
uncertainty of the u1 is estimated to be <3%. The bias error of
square-cylinder dimensions and gap spacing is within ±0.025 mm
measured using a precise caliper. Moreover, the accuracy of pres-
sure transducer with an accuracy = ±1% was utilized to scan the
surface pressure on the square cylinders. The pressure acquisition
started at the 10th second of the through-time and elapsed for 10 s.
The sampling rate and record length are 4000 Hz and 40,000 sam-
ples, respectively. Accordingly, the accuracies of pressure coeffi-
cient and form drag coefficient are <4% and <5%, respectively.
Additionally, the accuracy of vortex-shedding frequency depended
on the sampling rate of FFT analyzer. The sampling frequency is
16 kHz and the error of the vortex-shedding frequency is estimated
to be <0.75% in this investigation.
2.7. Nomenclature
In this work, the measurements of velocity are presented non-
dimensionally in the form of Reynolds number which is defined
as Re = u1w/m, where m is the kinematic viscosity of air and w is
the width of square cylinder. The gap ratio is defined as g = g/w,
where g represents the spacing between the square-cylinder
surfaces. Moreover, the vortex-shedding frequency in each flow
pattern is characterized using the non-dimensional parameter –
Strouhal number, St = fw/u1, where f is vortex-shedding frequency
behind the square cylinders.
Fig. 4. Distribution of characteristic flow modes.
 S.C. Yen, J.H. Liu / International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow 32 (2011) 41–51 45

3. Results and discussion
3.1. Smoke-streak flow patterns
The smoke-wire scheme was utilized to visualize the flow con-
figurations. Additionally, the flow separation and the vortex evolu-
tion were visualized using a high-speed photography system and a
video recorder. The flow structures around the square cylinders
were classified by varying the Re and the g of these two square
cylinders. In the experiments, g was varied from 0 to 12 and
2262 < Re < 12,560 (corresponding free-stream velocity: 1.8 m/
s < u1 < 9.8 m/s).
The instantaneous streaklines were recorded from the smoke-
wire technique. Fig. 2 depicts the instantaneous smoke-streak flow
patterns behind the square cylinders at Re = 2262 with exposure
time of 1/2000 s. Moreover, Fig. 3 delineates the schematic
sketches of surface-flow structures by referencing the smoke-
streak patterns shown in Fig. 2. Figs. 2a and 3a present the typical
flow patterns behind a single-square cylinder, which is similar to
those obtained by Okajima (1982) and Bearman and Trueman
(1972). Fig. 2a reveals that no reattachment occurred on the lateral
surfaces of the cylinder. Furthermore, the flow separated at the
leading edges, and then a flow envelope was formed in the wake.
Incidentally, the Kármán-type vortices shed alternatively down-
stream. The lateral spacing (a) between the successive vortices in
the same train is 1.83 and the transverse spacing (b) between
two vortex trains is 0.48. Consequently, the spacing ratio of b/a is
0.262. von Kármán (1956) determined that the theoretical b/a ratio
for a circular cylinder is 0.281. Moreover, the time-averaged
images were visualized using the particle tracking flow visualiza-
tion (PTFV) scheme (Liu, 2008). Liu indicated that the flow sepa-
rated near the front vertices of square cylinder and a pair of
vortices was generated behind the square cylinder. Furthermore,
an off-axis four-way saddle occurred in the wake.
In Figs. 2b and 3b, two identical square cylinders were installed
side by side (i.e. g = 0) to form a rectangular bulk. The flow sepa-
rated from the two leading edges of rectangular bulk. A shedding
vortex was formed behind the rectangular bulk and no reattachment

  
Fig. 5. Distribution of (a) the normalized streamwise velocity (u=u1 ), (b) the normalized transverse velocity (v =u1 ), (c) the normalized streamwise normal stress u0 u0 u21 ,
     
(d) the normalized transverse normal stress v 0 v 0 u21 , (e) the normalized shear stress u0 v 0 u21 , and (f) the turbulence intensity (TI).
46 S.C. Yen, J.H. Liu / International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow 32 (2011) 41–51

occurred on the lateral surfaces of rectangular bulk. The flow pat-
tern was analogous to that presented in Fig. 2a. However, the shed-
ding frequency behind a rectangular bulk was lower than that
behind a single-cylinder because a broad low-pressure region
was formed behind the rectangular bulk. Fig. 2c displays that the
flow structure at g = 0.05 is similar to that shown in Fig. 2b. This
flow pattern is called the single mode for low gap ratios.
Figs. 2d and 3c depict the case with a jet moving through the
gap. No separation occurred on the interfacial cylinder surfaces
at g = 0.5. The jet flow could not maintain its straight path-line,
that is, the jet flow was deflected alternately by the Coanda effect
(Coanda, 1936; Newman, 1961). Moreover, the flow structure
exhibits anti-phase vortex shedding and a four-way saddle exists
at (x/w, y/w) = (4.2, 0). The flow pattern is called the gap-flow mode.
Fig. 2e displays that the flow structure at g = 1.5 is similar to that
presented in Fig. 2d.
Figs. 2f and 3d present the flow patterns behind the cylinders at
g = 6.0. The flow structure behind each square cylinder is independent

Fig. 6. Distributions of pressure coefficient (Cp) on the peripheral of square cylinders.

 S.C. Yen, J.H. Liu / International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow 32 (2011) 41–51 47

of the other at high g. The flow structure indicates that in-phase
vortex shedding occurred behind the square cylinders. This flow
pattern is defined as the couple vortex-shedding mode. Fig. 2g dis-
plays that the flow structure at g = 10.0 is similar to that presented
in Fig. 2f.
Fig. 4 depicts the distribution of characteristic flow patterns ob-
tained by altering g and Re. The wake-flow patterns were classi-
fied into three modes – single mode, gap-flow mode, and couple
vortex-shedding mode. At low gap ratio (g 6 0.1), the flow struc-
tures were located in the single mode which assembles the flow
patterns behind a single-square cylinder. At 0.1 6 g 6 5.5, the
gap-flow mode exhibits anti-phase vortex shedding, which is
caused by the interference between two identical square cylinders.
At high gap ratio (g P 5.5), the couple vortex-shedding mode
exhibits in-phase vortex shedding because the flows move inde-
pendently behind the square cylinders. Additionally, the borders
that separate the characteristic flow regimes bear some uncer-
tainty. The maximum uncertainties are ±0.02 for g and ±50 for Re.
3.2. Velocity properties
Fig. 5 shows the velocity properties obtained by calculating the
velocity fluctuation measured using X-type hot-wire sensor (cross
type) against g* for Re = 1.3  104, 1.7  104, and 2.1  104. For

Fig. 7. Distributions of root-mean-square pressure coefficient (Cp,rms) on the peripheral of square cylinders.
48 S.C. Yen, J.H. Liu / International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow 32 (2011) 41–51

examining the unsteady wake flow behind the square cylinders,
the X-type hot-wire probe was placed at (x/w, y/w) = (3.0, 0) where
a four-way saddle point occurred. Figs. 5a and 5b reveal the varia-
tions of normalized streamwise (u=u1 ) and transverse (v =u1 )
velocity against g*. In the single mode (for low g*), the velocity
components were insignificant because the velocity at the four-
way saddle is theoretically zero. Figs. 5c and 5d display   the
variations of normalized streamwise normal stress u0 u0 u21 and
  2
transverse normal stress v 0 v 0 u1 against g*. In the gap-flow
mode, the jet flow moved through the gap between the square cyl-
inders and the jet flow could not maintain its straight path-line.
Namely, the Coanda effect induced the jet flow deflected alter-
nately. Additionally, the maximum normal stresses occurs at
  
g* = 1.5. Fig. 5e shows the variation of shear stress u0 v 0 u21 versus
g*. In the couple vortex-shedding mode, the flow structure behind
each square cylinder is independent of the other. Moreover, the
flow structure reveals an in-phase vortex shedding occurring be-
hind the cylinders. The flow patterns were independent of gap ra-
tio. Consequently, the shear stress approached zero while g* > 5.5.
Fig. 5f shows the variations of turbulence intensity (TI) against g*,
where TI is based on the local mea flow velocity. In the single
mode, TI is around 7.8% because these two identical square cylin-
ders were installed side by side. Then, a broad low-pressure wake
was formed behind the rectangular bulk. Additionally, in the gap-
flow mode, the jet flow could not maintain its straight path-line
and the jet flow deflected alternately. Consequently, the turbulence
intensity in the gap-flow mode is higher than that in the single
mode. Specifically, the maximum TI of around 19.2% occurred at
g* = 1.5. In the couple vortex-shedding mode (at high g*), the flow
pattern behind each square cylinder is independent of the other
and TI remains constant TI  1.5% while g* > 5.5.
is the local static pressure on the cylinder surface; pfs is the static
pressure of free stream, and q is the air density. Fig. 6a presents
the Cp profile on the single-square cylinder. On Face A1B1, Cp is
symmetrical about the stagnation point, where Cp is at its maxi-
mum of 1.0. Cp is at its minimum of 0.72 at Vertices A1 and B1.
On Face B1C1, Cp declines from 1.1 (at Vertex B1) to 1.2 (at Ver-
tex C1). On Face C1D1, Cp is symmetrical about the center of Face
C1D1. The Cp curves on Faces B1C1 and D1A1 were similar to each
other because of geometrical symmetry. Moreover, Figs. 6b and
6c depict the Cp curves on the two side-by-side square cylinders.
Figs. 6b and 6c display the Cp profile in the single mode (g* = 0).
The Cp distribution on Face B1C1 is similar to that for a single-
square cylinder. The Cp profile on Face B2C2 is similar to that on
Face D1A1 for a single-square cylinder. Figs. 6d and 6e show the
Cp profile in the single mode (g* = 0.05). On Face D1A1, Cp increased
from 0.8 (at Vertex D1) to 0.27 (at Vertex A1), unlike in Fig. 6b
and c at g* = 0. Figs. 6f and 6g present the Cp profile in the gap-flow
mode at g* = 0.5. The Cp profile on Face D1A1 is similar to that on
Face D2A2. Additionally, Cp decreased from 0.5 (at Vertex D1) to
1.45 (at Vertex A1) on Face D1A1. Figs. 6h and 6i show the Cp pro-
file in the gap-flow mode (g* = 1.5). The Cp profile on Faces D1A1 and
D2A2 differed from those in Figs. 6f and 6g. Figs. 6j and 6k present

3.3. Surface pressure and form drag

3.3.1. Distribution of surface pressure

The distributions of time-averaged surface pressure on the
peripheries of square cylinder – on Faces A1B1, B1C1, C1D1 and
D1A1 – were probed using a 32-tap pressure transducer (Setra
Co., Model 264, accuracy = ±1.0%). Fig. 6 plots the curves of sur-
face-pressure coefficient (Cp) along each  face
 at Re =2.1  104.
The definition of Cp herein is C p  ðp  pfs Þ 0:5  qu21 , where p

*
Fig. 8. Variation of form drag coefficient (CD) against Reynolds number (Re) behind Fig. 9. Variation of (a) average form drag coefficient

C D versus gap ratio (g ), and
two side-by-side square cylinders. (b) root-mean-square form drag coefficient C D;rms versus gap ratio (g*).
 S.C. Yen, J.H. Liu / International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow 32 (2011) 41–51
the Cp profile in couple vortex-shedding mode at g* = 10. The Cp
profiles on the peripheries are similar to that on a single-square
cylinder, as presented in Fig. 6a.
Fig. 7 shows the distributions of root-mean-square pressure
coefficient (Cp,rms) on the peripheries of square cylinder at
Re = 2.1  104. The definition of Cp,rms herein is C p;rms 
qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi   A1B1. Furthermore, Figs. 7j and 7k present the Cp,rms profile of the
ðp  p Þ2 0:5  qu21 , where p
 is the average surface pressure
at each detecting point. Fig. 7a presents the Cp,rms profile on the sin-
gle-square cylinder. On Face A1B1, the distribution of Cp,rms is sym-
metrical about the stagnation point, where the minimum Cp,rms of
0.058 occurs. Moreover, the maximum Cp,rms of 0.178 occurs at Ver-
tices A1 and B1. On Face B1C1, Cp,rms declines from 0.588 (at Vertex
B1) to 0.52 (at Vertex C1). However, on Face C1D1, Cp,rms is symmet-
rical about the center of Face C1D1. The Cp,rms curves on Faces B1C1
and D1A1 are similar because of the geometrical symmetry. Fur-
thermore, the current results are similar to those conducted by
Noda and Nakayama (2003) who worked on the single-square cyl-
inder model.
Figs. 7b–7k depict the Cp,rms curves on the two side-by-side
)
square cylinders. Figs. 7b and 7c display the Cp,rms profile for the
single mode (g* = 0). On Face A1B1, the minimum Cp,rms of 0.048 oc-
curs at the stagnation point (Vertex A). Furthermore, the maximum
Cp,rms of 0.187 occurs at Vertex B1. Additionally, the Cp,rms curves on
Faces B1C1 and B2C2 are similar to those on Faces B1C1 and D1A1 for
a single-square cylinder (Fig. 7a). Figs. 7d and 7e show the Cp,rms
profile of the single mode (g* = 0.05). On Face D1A1, Cp,rms increased
from 0.062 (at Vertex D1) to 0.162 (at Vertex A1). Figs. 7f and 7g
present the Cp,rms profile in the gap-flow mode while g* = 0.5. The
Fig. 10. Variations of vortex-shedding frequency (f) against free-stream velocity (u1) at (x/w, y/w) = (a) (3.0, –w–g/2), (b) (3.0, –g/2), (c) (3.0, g/2) and (d) (3.0, w + g/2).
49
Cp,rms profile on Face D1A1 is similar to that on Face D2A2. Addition-
ally, Cp,rms increased from 0.15 (at Vertex D1) to 0.4 (at Vertex A1)
on Face D1A1. Figs. 7h and 7i show the Cp,rms profile in the gap-flow
mode as g* = 1.5. The Cp,rms profile on Faces A1B1 and Face A2D2 indi-
cates that the minimum Cp,rms of 0.058 occurs at the stagnation
point and this stagnation point moves toward the center of Face
couple vortex-shedding mode for g* = 10. The Cp,rms profiles for
the couple vortex-shedding mode are similar to those for the sin-
gle-square cylinder, as presented in Fig. 7a.
3.3.2. Form drag
The form drag coefficient (CD) was calculated using the detected
profile of surface pressure by varying Re and g (Zdravkovich,
1997). Fig. 8 plots CD as a function of g for various Re. In Fig. 8,
CD differs slightly between Cylinder-I and II in each mode and at
each gap ratio because of the flow interaction behind the two
side-by-side cylinders (Fig. 2). Additionally, CD is close to a con-
stant in each mode at Re > 1.7  104 .
Fig. 9 plots the variations of average form drag coefficient (C D
and the average root-mean-square form drag coefficient C D;rms
on each square cylinder for the two-cylinder configurations while
Re = 2.1  104. Fig. 9a shows the C D for a single-square cylinder is
approximately 2.06, which is consistent with those (C D ¼ 2:07) ob-
tained by Bearman and Trueman (1972), (C D ¼ 2:05) determined
by Lee (1975), and (C D ¼ 2:04) conducted by Naudascher et al.
(1981). Moreover, the experimental result also shows that the
maximum C D  2:24 occurs in the single mode (g = 0). Namely,
the maximum C D is similar to that obtained by Inoue et al.
50 S.C. Yen, J.H. Liu / International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow 32 (2011) 41–51
(2006) for a single rectangular cylinder. Furthermore, C D decreases
with g in the single mode. Additionally, for two side-by-side
square cylinders, the minimum C D of 1.68 occurs in the gap-flow
mode because a jet flow moves through the cylinder gap. Fig. 9a
cylinders. Fig. 9b shows the variation of the average CD,rms
also indicates that C D increases with g in the gap-flow mode.
The C D for the two side-by-side square cylinder is less than that
for a single-square cylinder. Moreover, the flow structure exhibits
an anti-phase vortex shedding. In the couple vortex-shedding
mode, C D is almost constant, that is, independent of g. Specifically,
Fig. 11. Variations of (a) Strouhal number (St) vs. gap ratio (g*) and (b) Strouhal
number (St) vs. Reynolds number (Re).
Table 1
Correlations of CD and St for different flow modes.
Single-square-cylinder model
Form drag coefficient C D
C D  2:06
Vortex shedding St*
St*  0.132
the C D of 2.08 is approximately equal to that (C D ¼ 2:06) of a sin-
gle-square cylinder. Additionally, the flow structure exhibits in-
phase vortex shedding, which occurs behind two side-by-side
square

C D;rms against g. The definition of C D;rms is that sum-CD,rms divided
by 2 for finding the rms-CD on each square cylinder. Fig 9b shows
the CD,rms for a single-square cylinder is approximately 0.242. The
maximum C D;rms of 0.263 occurs in the gap-flow mode (g = 0.5)
which is about 8.6% higher than that of a single-square cylinder. Fi-
nally, the C D;rms of 0.241 occurring in the couple vortex-shedding
mode is close to 0.242 for the single-square cylinder.
3.4. Vortex-shedding frequency
The vortex-shedding frequency (f) behind two side-by-side
square cylinders was probed using various free-stream velocities
and gap ratios. Accordingly, vortex-shedding frequency in each
flow pattern was characterized using the non-dimensional param-
eter – Strouhal number (St = f w/u1).
Fig. 10 plots the variations of vortex-shedding frequency versus
free-stream velocity using different g. The vortex-shedding fre-
quency was determined at (x/w, y/w) = (3.0, –w–g/2), (3.0, –g/2),
(3.0, g/2) and (3.0, w + g/2) behind a single-square cylinder and
two side-by-side square cylinders. Fig. 10 reveals that in single
mode, the vortex-shedding frequency at position (i) is close to that
at position (iv); the value of f at position (ii) and (iii) was no prom-
inent frequency. However, f at positions (i) and (iv) is only slightly
lower than that for a single-square model. Fig. 10 also indicates
that the vortex-shedding frequencies at these four probed posi-
tions are similar in gap-flow mode. However, these four probed
frequencies are not equal that for a single-square cylinder. In the
couple vortex-shedding mode, the vortex-shedding frequencies at
these four probed positions are similar and close to that in the sin-
gle-square cylinder.
Fig. 11 plots the variations of St against Re behind a single-
square cylinder and two side-by-side square cylinders using vari-
ous gap ratios. Fig. 11a demonstrates that Strouhal number for a
single-square cylinder (St) is close to 0.132 which is near the value
obtained by Davis and Moore (1982), Okajima (1982), and Norberg
(1993). Incidentally, the spacing ratio b/a is 0.262, which satisfies
the condition b/a = 2St (for a circular cylinder) proven by Levi
(1983), Roshko (1954), and Bearman (1967). Fig. 11a also reveals
that, the maximum St for each Re for two side-by-side square cyl-
inder is in the single mode. However, the minimum St occurs in the
gap-flow mode. Eq. (1) gives the regressive relation between St and
Re at g = 1.5.
0:34
St ¼ 0:145  ; at g  ¼ 1:5: ð1Þ
Re
The flow structure exhibits the anti-phase vortex shedding in
the gap-flow mode. Fig. 11a displays that the weak Re-effect oc-
curred while the gap ratio is 0.5. However, the strong Re-effect oc-
curs at high gap ratio of 1.5. The reason is that the flow patterns at
higher Re-effect (namely, higher inertia force) are independent of
the Coanda effect. Therefore, the St approaches to the data occur-
ring in the couple-vortex-shedding mode. Moreover, the shedding
Side-by-side square cylinders
Single mode Gap-flow mode Couple vortex-shedding mode
C D Single C D Gap C D Couple
Maximum C D Gap < C D Couple C D Couple  C D
StSingle StGap StCouple
Maximum Minimum StCouple  St*
 S.C. Yen, J.H. Liu / International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow 32 (2011) 41–51
frequency is high at high Re and is low at low Re while g = 1.5. In
couple vortex-shedding mode, St is close to a constant (St  0.13)
at high Re. This St of 0.13 for two side-by-side square cylinders is
close to St = 0.132 for a single-cylinder. Moreover, the flow struc-
ture exhibits in-phase vortex shedding behind the two side-by-
side square cylinders. Fig. 11b plots the curves of St versus g at
various Re. In the single mode, St decreases as g increases. How-
ever, in the gap-flow mode, St increases with g. In the couple vor-
tex-shedding mode, St becomes a constant.
4. Conclusions
This study examined the characteristics of boundary-layer flow
around one single-square cylinder and two side-by-side square
cylinders using various Reynolds numbers and gap ratios. The flow
behaviors and flow patterns were identified using the smoke-wire
scheme. Furthermore, the smoke-streak patterns behind two side-
by-side square cylinders are classified into three modes – single
mode, gap-flow mode, and couple vortex-shedding. The surface-pres-
sure profile, form drag coefficient, and vortex-shedding frequency
were determined using a pressure transducer and a hot-wire ane-
mometer. The gap-flow mode exhibits the anti-phase vortex shed-
ding and the couple vortex-shedding mode exhibits the in-phase
vortex shedding. Moreover, Table 1 presents the correlations of
C D and St with changing the characteristic modes. The C D in various
flow modes followed the order of C DGap < C DCouple , and furthermore
the maximum C D occurs in the single mode. Specifically, the
C DCouple of 2.08 is approximately equal to that (C D ¼ 2:06) of a sin-
gle-square cylinder. Moreover, the gap-flow mode has the lowest
St, whose magnitudes in the various modes followed the order of
StGap < St  StCouple < StSingle.
Acknowledgment
This research was supported by the National Science Council of
the Republic of China, under Grant No. NSC 97-2221-E-019-039.
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