Numerical Investigation of Wake Interference in Tandem Square Cylinders at Low Reynolds Numbers

This study numerically investigates laminar flow around two prismatic bodies, specifically square cylinders, arranged in tandem. The analysis covered gap ratios (L/D=2–7) and Reynolds numbers (Re = 100–200), focusing on quantifying the aerodynamic characteristics and examining the wake flow structures within the established interference regimes. The time-averaged and unsteady parameters, including the drag and lift coefficients, RMS lift, vortex formation length, Strouhal number, recirculation length, wake width, and pressure distribution, were evaluated for both cylinders. A consistent critical spacing of L/D≈4.5 was observed across all Reynolds numbers, coinciding with the minimum Strouhal number, a sharp increase in unsteady lift, and divergence in wake width between cylinders. Notably, in the range 4.5≲L/D≲6.5 at higher Re, the DC exhibited a mean drag exceeding that of an isolated cylinder, attributed to base-pressure reduction and accelerated inflow from the upstream wake. A critical spacing in the co-shedding regime produced strong drag amplification on the DC, attaining an overall maximum value of 50.41% at Re=200 and L/D=6.0. To note, unlike mean drag, mean lift is found to be zero in all interference cases for both cylinders, irrespective of spacing ratio and Re, owing to the symmetry of the time-averaged pressure distribution on either side of the cylinders. Spectral and phase analyses reveal a transition from broadband, desynchronised oscillations to a frequency-locked state, with the phase angle between the cylinders reducing sharply to Δϕ≈0∘ at the critical spacing. This indicates complete in-phase synchronisation or symmetry of the vortex-shedding process between the cylinders at the critical spacing. This confirmed the hydrodynamic transition between the coupled and independent shedding modes of the cylinders. The recirculation lengths for the DC reduce to as low as 0.6D in the co-shedding regime, highlighting rapid wake recovery. The research presented here offers new insights into force modulation, the evolution of wake structures, and the sensitivity to the Re that occurs when laminar flow occurs between two tandem square cylinders. These findings can be utilised to develop methods for controlling VIV and designing thermal-fluid systems.