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Computation
Volume 13
Issue 11
10.3390/computation13110271
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Wake Dynamics and Vortex Synchronization in Multi-Cylinder Arrays: A Computational Insight into Aerodynamic Performance and Flow Interference

by
Sunil Chamoli
1,
Chidanand K. Mangrulkar
2,
Anirudh Uniyal
1,
Mohit Bhatt
1,
Nikhil Joshi
1,
Abhishek Rawat
1,
Kapil Bhatt
1,
Pawan Kumar Pant
1,
Varesa Chuwattanakul
3,* and
Smith Eiamsa-ard
4
1
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Engineering & Technology, Pauri 246194, Uttarakhand, India
2
Department of Mechanical Engineering, B.M.S. College of Engineering, Bengaluru 560019, KA, India
3
School of Engineering, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand
4
School of Engineering and Industrial Technology, Mahanakorn University of Technology, Bangkok 10530, Thailand
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Computation 2025, 13(11), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/computation13110271
Submission received: 10 October 2025 / Revised: 7 November 2025 / Accepted: 12 November 2025 / Published: 18 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Computational Engineering)
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Abstract

This study presents a detailed computational investigation of unsteady laminar flow around two-dimensional square cylinders arranged in multiple configurations. Simulations were performed using ANSYS Fluent 2019 at Reynolds numbers ranging from 50 to 200, with three geometric layouts as follows: two vertically aligned cylinders, three inline cylinders, and three staggered cylinders. Center-to-center spacing ratios of 1.5D, 2.5D, and 3.5D were evaluated to assess wake interference, vortex shedding behavior, and aerodynamic force fluctuations. Results reveal that a close spacing (1.5D) causes strong wake coupling and highly irregular flow behavior, especially with inline configurations, leading to amplified drag and suppressed vortex shedding with downstream cylinders. In contrast, a staggered three-cylinder arrangement at 3.5D spacing exhibits regular vortex shedding, uniform force distribution, and minimized flow-induced oscillations, indicating aerodynamic stability. The Strouhal number, computed using FFT analysis, confirms the onset of periodic shedding at higher Reynolds numbers and highlights optimal synchronization at wider spacings. The study concludes that staggered configurations with appropriate spacing outperform inline setups in terms of flow control, dynamic stability, and reduced aerodynamic interference, offering insights relevant to high-rise building clusters and industrial heat exchanger design.
Keywords: laminar flow; square cylinder; wake interaction; vortex shedding; CFD; Reynolds number; Strouhal number laminar flow; square cylinder; wake interaction; vortex shedding; CFD; Reynolds number; Strouhal number
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MDPI and ACS Style

Chamoli, S.; Mangrulkar, C.K.; Uniyal, A.; Bhatt, M.; Joshi, N.; Rawat, A.; Bhatt, K.; Pant, P.K.; Chuwattanakul, V.; Eiamsa-ard, S. Wake Dynamics and Vortex Synchronization in Multi-Cylinder Arrays: A Computational Insight into Aerodynamic Performance and Flow Interference. Computation 2025, 13, 271. https://doi.org/10.3390/computation13110271

AMA Style

Chamoli S, Mangrulkar CK, Uniyal A, Bhatt M, Joshi N, Rawat A, Bhatt K, Pant PK, Chuwattanakul V, Eiamsa-ard S. Wake Dynamics and Vortex Synchronization in Multi-Cylinder Arrays: A Computational Insight into Aerodynamic Performance and Flow Interference. Computation. 2025; 13(11):271. https://doi.org/10.3390/computation13110271

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chamoli, Sunil, Chidanand K. Mangrulkar, Anirudh Uniyal, Mohit Bhatt, Nikhil Joshi, Abhishek Rawat, Kapil Bhatt, Pawan Kumar Pant, Varesa Chuwattanakul, and Smith Eiamsa-ard. 2025. "Wake Dynamics and Vortex Synchronization in Multi-Cylinder Arrays: A Computational Insight into Aerodynamic Performance and Flow Interference" Computation 13, no. 11: 271. https://doi.org/10.3390/computation13110271

APA Style

Chamoli, S., Mangrulkar, C. K., Uniyal, A., Bhatt, M., Joshi, N., Rawat, A., Bhatt, K., Pant, P. K., Chuwattanakul, V., & Eiamsa-ard, S. (2025). Wake Dynamics and Vortex Synchronization in Multi-Cylinder Arrays: A Computational Insight into Aerodynamic Performance and Flow Interference. Computation, 13(11), 271. https://doi.org/10.3390/computation13110271

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