Controlling chaos in a fluid flow past a movable cylinder

Abstract

The model of a two-dimensional fluid flow past a cylinder is a relatively simple problem with a strong impact in many applied fields, such as aerodynamics or chemical sciences, although most of the involved physical mechanisms are not yet well known. This paper analyzes the fluid flow past a cylinder in a laminar regime with Reynolds number, Re, around 200, where two vortices appear behind the cylinder, by using an appropriate time-dependent stream function and applying non-linear dynamics techniques. The goal of the paper is to analyze under which circumstances the chaoticity in the wake of the cylinder might be modified, or even suppressed. And this has been achieved with the help of some indicators of the complexity of the trajectories for the cases of a rotating cylinder and an oscillating cylinder.