Numerical investigation of the path of a freely vibrating circular cylinder at high reduced frequency value

Flow around a freely vibrating circular cylinder at high natural frequency is studied numerically. The appearance of a raindrop-shaped cylinder path is found where streamwise oscillation amplitude or time-mean of lift approaches relatively high values. Abrupt jumps are identified in the time-mean of lift when plotted against Reynolds number. Applying developed flows as initial conditions, the range of raindrop-shaped motion increases and jumps in the time-mean of lift disappear.