LAUSR

Abstract Computer simulations of steady plus low-amplitude oscillatory flow about a circular cylinder are reported at a fixed Reynolds number of 150 based on the steady component. The conventional Keleugan–Carpenter number based on the oscillatory component is fixed at π/5. The oscillation frequency is varied so as to study a wide spectrum of flows where inertial forces dominate at one end and viscous drag forces at the other as a function of the modified Keleugan–Carpenter number. The hydrodynamic force on the cylinder in-line with the flow direction is represented by Morison's equation and an extended version with three terms. The drag and inertia coefficients in Morison's equation are determined by least-squares fits to data directly computed from integration of skin friction and pressure distributions around the periphery of the cylinder. The root-mean-square value of the residue of reconstructed minus directly-computed forces varies between 2 and 41% depending on the flow parameters. Comparable results can be obtained with a semi-theoretical approach using inviscid inertia and quasi-steady viscous drag terms. Physical explanations for the variation of the force coefficients are provided and implications for pertinent flow–structure interactions are discussed.