The influences of the cross sectional shape of the rib on the flow around the rib array was studied by means of experiments and CFD. Four different cross-sectional shapes, namely half square, half circle, right triangle of which hypotenuse facing upstream and right triangle of which leg facing upstream were tested. The length ratio of rib base and gap is 1:2. The flow field was measured by the hot wire and visualized by smoke wire method. Numerical simulation was carried out by Large Eddy Simulation (LES) with Smagorinsky model. These results clarified the influence of the shape of the rib on the process of turbulence generation, the extent of turbulent domain and the contour of vortices.