Variation in the critical mass ratio of a freely oscillating cylinder as a function of Reynolds number

A two-dimensional numerical investigation of the flow-induced vibration of a circular cylinder held free to oscillate transverse to the free-stream direction has been performed. The simulations were performed over a Reynolds number range Re= f30,200g and for an infinite reduced velocity. Two regions of high amplitude oscillations are observed and are referred to as the viscous and higher Reynolds number range, respectively. The viscous range was observed for Re= f40,95g and the higher Reynolds number range was observed above Re=180. A critical mass ratio, below which appreciable amplitude oscillations are observed, is determined as a function of Reynolds number. For Reynolds numbers between the two ranges, only very small oscillations were observed for all mass ratios investigated. © 2005 American Institute of Physics. fDOI: 10.1063/1.1850871g