Finite element computations and experimental studies of flow past an array of plates

Abstract

Finite element computations and laboratory experiments were carried out to study the mutual wake interaction behind two plates placed side by side. The computations are based on the vorticity-stream function formation of the two-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The flow visualization studies indicate independent vortex sheddings at large gap sizes and metastable biased flow at smaller gap sizes. The computational results exhibit a similar behavior.