Effects of splitter plates on the wake flow behind a bluff body

The effects of splitter plates on the wake behind a two-dimensional bluff body with fixed separation points has been experimentally studied for low Reynolds numbers between 0.35 x 103 and 1.15 x 103. A rectangular cylinder was chosen as a bluff body to have the location of the separation points fixed independent of the flow situation and the air velocity. Three sizes of splitter plates were used; these plates were mounted in the center plane of the cylinder at various distances downstream of the cylinder. Detailed measurements of shedding frequency, base pressure, coherence function, and correlation coefficient were obtained. The results indicate that splitter plates alter the manner of vortex formation in the wake causing a decrease in shedding frequency, an increase in base pressure, and a reduction in the overall drag by up to 50%. The effects of splitter plates on the wake-flow characteristics are discussed.