Effect of Strouhal Number on Flow Characteristics in a Symmetric Sinusoidal Wavy-Walled Channel for Oscillatory Flow

Abstract

The effect of the Strouhal number on several flow characteristics in a wavy-walled channel was numerically and experimentally studied for oscillatory flow. Although oscillatory flow is characterized by a vortex formation/ejection cycle for any Strouhal number, the peak of vortex strength appears at an intermediate Strouhal number for both instantaneous flow and steady streaming. The time required for erosion of the ejected vortex at the centerline of the channel is closely related to the vortex strength at the instant of zero flow rate.