Methods for the Numerical Simulation of Vortical and Turbulent Flows Control of three-dimensional wakes using evolution strategies

We investigate three-dimensional cylinder wakes of incompressible fully developed flows at Re = 300, resulting from control induced by tangential motions of the cylinder surface. The motion of the cylinder surface, in two dimensions, is optimized using evolution strategies, resulting in significant drag reduction and drastic modification of the wake as compared to the uncontrolled flow. The quasi-optimal velocity profile obtained in 2D is modified by spanwise harmonics and applied to 3D flows. The results indicate important differences in the flow physics induced by two and three dimensional control strategies. To cite this article: P. Poncet et al., C. R. Mecanique 333 (2005). 2004 Académie des sciences. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved