ABSTRACT
The laminar vortex shedding of airflow behind an electrically heated circular cylinder was experimentally and numerically investigated at low Reynolds numbers (Re < 200). The Z-type Schlieren technique was applied to measure the temperature distribution. The experiments were carried out at free and forced convection in a 0.5 × 0.5 m cross-section wind tunnel. For numerical simulations a heated horizontal circular cylinder is exposed to approaching flow stream, in horizontal (cross-flow), parallel (parallel flow) and opposing (contra flow) directions to the buoyant force. The results show significant changes of the wake flow structures behind the heated cylinder due to the thermal effects at different approaching flow arrangements.
