Numerical Analysis of the Unsteady Flow and Heat Transfer to a Cylinder in Crossflow

The unsteady, two-dimensional viscous flow of an incompressible, constant-property fluid flowing over a cylinder is numerically analyzed by integrating the vorticity transport equation and the energy equation. Departing from the usual stream function approach, the velocity distribution is obtained from the vorticity distribution by integrating the velocity induction law. Calculations start with the impulsive motion of the free stream and a step change in the surface temperature of the cylinder. The solution is advanced in time until steady-state conditions are achieved. Results are obtained for a Prandtl number of 0.7 and Reynolds numbers of 3000 and 70,800. Local and average Nusselt numbers and force coefficients are presented and compared to available experimental data.