Direct calculation of the added mass of a circular cylinder

oscillating transversely uniform flow

Oleg E. Kirillov

In [1], a calculation of the added mass of the oscillating circular cylinder in a

uniform flow, and cross flow cylinder performs harmonic oscillations. The
author of [1] to the surprising conclusion comes that the added mass is
dependent not only on the mass of fluid in the volume per unit length of the
cylinder that is expected, but also on the ratio of the maximum speed of
vibration to the flow velocity, as well as time. Below is a direct calculation of
the added mass in this case and obtained expected classical result - added
mass equal to the mass of fluid in the volume per unit length of the cylinder.

There is a uniform flow of an ideal incompressible fluid in the X direction with

the velocity U. In the flow of this fluid performs harmonic oscillations circular cylinder
of radius R. Fig. 1 illustrates the problem in the observer reference frame, for which no
movable XY axis, that is, the fluid moves at a speed U along the axis X, and the cylinder
oscillates along axis Y.

Y
y1

x1

U
X

Fig. 1.

We write the total complex potential in this case [2]

UR 2
vR2
,
( z ) Uz
i
z zC
z zC

(1)

where z = x + iy - a point in the fluid flow, z C xC iyC - the center point of the
cylinder, v - speed of the cylinder. In our problem

xC 0 , yC A sin( t ) , v y C A cos(t ) .

(2)

In (1) the first term - a uniform flow along the X axis, the second term - the
potential of a dipole in the center of the cylinder, providing no flow through the surface
of the cylinder of a homogeneous flow, the third term - the potential flow from the
dipole accompanying oscillating cylinder.
The complex velocity is

d
U iv 2
U
R .
dz
z zC 2

(3)

The real part of the complex potential (1) is the potential of the velocity field

Ux

Ux v y yC 2
2 R .
x 2 y yC

(4)

We will need the partial derivative with respect to time and the square of the velocity
flow on the cylinder surface. Surface of the cylinder - this point (in the associated
cylinder system)
z zC R ei .

(5)

Taking the time derivative of (4) and substituting (5), we obtain the time derivative of
the potential on the surface of the cylinder

1
Rv sin( ) Uv sin( 2) v 2 cos2 () .
t C
2

(6)

Square of the velocity on the surface we find, using the fact that
vC2 WCWC

(7)

From (3) following

WC U U iv e 2i

(8)
2

WC U U iv e 2i .

(9)

Hence, the square of the velocity on the cylinder surface is

vC2 v 2 2vU sin( 2) 4U 2 sin 2 () .

(10)

Force acting on the unit length of the cylinder, we find, integrating force projection
from the fluid pressure on the surface of the cylinder, i. e.
2

Fx p cos() Rd ;

Fy p sin( ) Rd

(11)

We use the Cauchy-Lagrange integral to find the pressure

1 2 p
v f (t ) .
t 2

(12)

Given that the flow at infinity is a homogeneous and stationary we obtain (12) in
the form
1 2 p 1 2 p
.
v U
t 2
2

(13)

1
p U 2 p
vC2 .
2
t C 2

(14)

For our problem we obtain

A cursory look at (6), (10), (11) and (14) it suffices to note that
Fx 0 .

(15)

Because, firstly, the integrals of the first two terms (14), which has constant multiplied
by the cosine (and the sine of the way, too) for a total period are zero. Second, (6) and
(10) multiplied by cos() and integrated over the entire period will also zero. For the
same reasons, the projection on the axis Y of the force acting on the cylinder will remain
one term, which is the first (6)
2

Fy v sin 2 () R 2 d

(16)

Thus, we obtain
Fy vR 2 R 2 v mA v

(17)

The expression in parentheses is the added mass, independent of any parameters

of motion in this problem and even more so over time and equal to the mass of fluid in
the cylinder volume per unit length.
Can solve this problem in a reference frame in which the fluid is not movable,
and the cylinder moves sinusoidally - in that formulation and solves the problem of the
author [1]. Changes, however, did not follow large. Complex potential instead of (1)
becomes
( z )

UR 2
vR2
i
z zC
z zC

(18)

Instead of (2) we obtain

xC Ut , yC A sin( t ) , v y C A cos(t ) .

(19)

Further, doing quite similar calculations, we obtain (17).

Now, regarding not the usual result of [1]. In my opinion, the author made a
mistake, the cause of which lies in not correct interpretation of (4.1) - numbering [1].
Briefly clarify the situation. The author considers the motion of the cylinder in a
stationary liquid, ie a cylinder moves sinusoidally. Further, the author writes the speed
of the cylinder in axes natural trihedral

U (t ) U (t ) ,
(20)

where - the unit vector tangent to the trajectory (sinusoid). I use the notation and
terminology adopted in the Russian science literature - they do not coincide with the
notation of the author [1]. Further, the author writes acceleration

U (t ) U (t ) U (t )

(21)

U (t ) U (t ) U (t ) n

(22)

in the form of a completely correct

It is the formula (4.1) of [1], in which n - the unit vector normal to the trajectory;
the angular velocity with which turns natural trihedral, ie axis ( , n ) . And this moment
was fatal for the entire article [1]. As further author treats as an angular speed of the
4

cylinder. Well, the rotational motion of the cylinder does not match what is attached
inertial characteristics. Therefore, (22) the second term is discarded as not contributing
to the inertial forces and obtained a formula here (instead of my (17))
2 cos2 (t )
.
Fy mAv
1 2 cos2 (t )

(23)

In conclusion, I note that the acceleration cylinder moving in a sinusoidal

throughout the motion is directed along the vertical line (up or down), but when we
throw in (22) the second term, we see that the acceleration vector is not directed in a
vertical line, but tangential to the trajectory, from what appeared in (23) is such an
awesome factor (fraction).
I personally wonder why the author did not go further and write an expression for
force projection Fx , because it does not turn it to zero, as in (15), wherein there is no
doubt. Indicative of this is his formula (4.2) in the article

FI mAU ,

(24)

where FI - the force exerted on the cylinder by the fluid, called by the author [1] inertial
force.

________________________________________________

1. Konstantinidis E. 2013 Added mass of a circular cylinder oscillating in a free stream.

Proc R Soc A 469: 20130135. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2013.0135
2. Milne-Thomson LM. 1962 Theoretical hydrodynamics. London, UK: Macmillan &
Co Ltd, fourth edition.