Two-Dimensional Numerical Simulation of Vortex Shedding of Multiple Stranded Ropes

Abstract

The stranded rope is one of the important components of the fishery aquaculture equipment. We investigate the fluid flow through two-dimensional stranded rope by direct simulation of the Navier-Stokes equations. We show that for different kinds of stranded rope structures, there are significant differences in hydrodynamic performance. This paper established a numerical model of unsteady flow past the stranded rope based on the Navier-Stokes equation and Morison formulas to study the hydrodynamic characteristics of three-stranded rope, four-stranded rope, and seven-stranded rope, respectively. The turbulence flow was simulated using Standard k-ε model and Shear-Stress Transport k-ω (SST) model. The flow distribution strongly depends on the Reynolds number, a range of 3,900 and 30,000. With increasing Reynolds number, the alternate eddy formation and shedding were repeated behind the stranded ropes. Such parameters of hydrodynamic characteristics of multiple stranded ropes were calculated as the lift and drag coefficients, and vortex shedding frequencies. The numerical simulation results presented flow performances of different cross sections (a, b, c, d) at different Reynolds numbers. However, Reynolds number has no significant impact on the Strouhal number for the same attack angle of the stranded rope.