Impact of Corner Modification and Cylinder Spacing on Aerothermal Behavior of Heated Square Cylinders

Abstract

This study investigates the flow and thermal characteristics around two heated square cylinders with different corner shapes such as sharp, chamfered and rounded arranged in tandem at spacing ratios (SR) of 2, 4, and 6. Simulations are conducted at Reynolds numbers (Re) of 100 and 200, focusing on pressure distribution, transverse velocity, aerodynamic forces (lift and drag), and convective heat transfer (Nusselt number). Pressure distribution results reveal that sharp-edged cylinders exhibit high fluctuations, while chamfered and rounded edges reduce pressure drag by up to 18%. Transverse velocity profiles show a 25–30% reduction in turbulence intensity for modified corners at SR = 6. Analysis of lift and drag coefficients indicates that increasing spacing and corner smoothing significantly stabilizes aerodynamic forces, with drag coefficient reductions of up to 20% observed for rounded cylinders. Heat transfer evaluation using local Nusselt numbers reveals that closely spaced sharp-edged cylinders enhance peak convective heat transfer by up to 35%, while rounded edges at higher spacing improve thermal uniformity and reduce fluctuation levels by approximately 22%. These findings demonstrate the aerodynamic and thermal benefits of corner modifications and optimal spacing in tandem cylinder arrangements.