Experimental study on Re number effects on aerodynamic characteristics of 2D square prisms with corner modifications

Simultaneous pressure measurements on 2D square prisms with various corner modifications were performed in uniform flow with low turbulence level, and the testing Reynolds numbers varied from $1.0{\times}10^5$ to $4.8{\times}10^5$. Experimental models were a square prism, three chamfered-corner square prisms (B/D=5%, 10%, and 15%, where B is the chamfered corner dimension and D is the cross-sectional dimension), and six rounded-corner square prisms (R/D =5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, and 40%, where R is the corner radius). Experimental results of drag coefficients, wind pressure distributions, power spectra of aerodynamic force coefficients, and Strouhal numbers are presented. Ten models are divided into various categories according to the variations of mean drag coefficients with Reynolds number. The mean drag coefficients of models with $B/D{\leq}15%$ and $R/D{\leq}15%$ are unaffected by the Reynolds number. On the contrary, the mean drag coefficients of models with R/D=20%, 30%, and 40% are obviously dependent on Reynolds number. Wind pressure distributions around each model are analyzed according to the categorized results.The influence mechanisms of corner modifications on the aerodynamic characteristics of the square prism are revealed from the perspective of flow around the model, which can be obtained by analyzing the local pressures acting on the model surface.