A numerical analysis of the flow arround structures by the discrete vortex method

A new discrete vortex method is described, which was developed for the analysis of an unsteady separated flow around a structure. In this method, the flow around the structure is assumed to be a potential flow except in the region of free shear layers, which are shed downstream from the separation points, and the free shear layers and the structure are represented by discrete vortices. Accordingly, this method can be easily applied to a complicated shape such as a structure, because the conformal mapping used in the usual discrete vortex methods is not required in this method. The analysis is applied to the flow calculations around a square prism with angle of attack, girder bridge and two square prisms perpendicular to the flow. The calculated results are compared with the experimental data, and good agreement has been obtained.