Flow Past a Circular Cylinder

Abstract

Relative motion between some object and a fluid is a common occurrence. Obvious examples are the motion of an aeroplane and of a submarine and the wind blowing past a structure such as a tall building or a bridge. Practical situations are however usually geometrically complicated. Here we wish to see the complexities of the flow that can arise even without geometrical complexity. We therefore choose a very simple geometrical arrangement, and one about which there is a lot of information available.