Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Compared to the textbook case of flow past a single cylinder, the analysis of flow past multiple cylinders mounted on a bed is very complex. The flow is affected by the spacing, height and diameter ratio of the upstream and downstream cylinders, arrangement of cylinders, etc. These parameters influence the wake dynamics and formation of coherent structures. The study of flow past multiple wall-mounted bluff bodies (henceforth denoted as MWMBB) is of importance in many engineering applications, including buildings, chimney stacks, cooling towers, bridge piers, aquatic plants, etc. Undesirable consequences such as flow induced scour, vibration, noise, and fatigue failure can arise in these applications. Vegetation patches found in rivers resemble MWMBB. A direct effect of climate change has been an increase in frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall events, which results in increased flow in rivers. Aquatic vegetation play an important role in mitigating many negative impacts on the river ecosystem. Vegetation also helps in nutrient uptake, oxygen production and acts as a filter to remove heavy metals. In these functions, the flow structure and turbulence downstream of the vegetation play a crucial role in determining the river's capacity to carry out the tasks effectively. Preserving the natural river system requires better management of vegetation, which in turn requires an understanding of the wake flow characteristics. Flow past a series of bridge piers is another example of MWMBB and pier scour has been suggested to be the principal cause of bridge failures. Similarly flow past heat exchangers resemble MWMBB. In these flow situations, the forces exerted can result in undesirable effects, leading to extensive and irreversible damage. A better physical understanding of the interaction between the flow and a cluster of bodies is also necessary to enhance the heat transfer characteristics. A novel numerical and experimental research program is proposed to investigate the flow past multiple wall-mounted bluff bodies and thereby advance our understanding of fluid-structure interaction. The research will address gaps in our comprehension of flow past MWMBB and aims to create a comprehensive database that will facilitate the development of more accurate predictive tools enabling us to better capture the flow structures and the underlying flow physics. To this end, the focus will be on studying the wake of MWMBB in different arrangements in open and closed channels. The research will aid to improve the design of buildings and towers, minimize bridge pier scour, increase the efficiency of heat exchangers, and understand the impacts of vegetation on natural flows. The improved understanding and the new tools developed will help reduce future reliance on expensive physical model testing. Over the 5-year cycle, 14 HQP (4 PhD, 5 MASc, 5 BASc) will be trained. They will develop skills that will prepare them for employment in the academia and industry.