Numerical study on the influence of a downstream plate on the wake dynamics of a hybrid cylinder

The wake structure behind a hybrid cylinder plays a crucial role in flow control and energy harvesting. The influence of a downstream plate on the wake dynamics of the upstream hybrid cylinder remains unclear. This study utilizes numerical simulations to systematically investigate the effects of a downstream plate on the wake flow of a hybrid cylinder at the Reynolds number of Re=150. The investigation examines how the height and spacing of the downstream plate regulate wake structures, lift and drag coefficients, and vortex shedding modes. Proper orthogonal decomposition is applied to reduce the dimensionality of the flow field and reveal underlying physical mechanisms. Results reveal that the downstream plate significantly modifies the wake flow distribution of the hybrid cylinder, extends the recirculation zone length, reduces drag coefficients, and induces complex modal energy distributions. Although the vortex shedding mode remains unchanged, the spacing, morphology, and energy characteristics of the vortices are significantly affected.