In fluid mechanics, the Roshko number (Ro) is a dimensionless number describing oscillating flow mechanisms. It is named after the Canadian Professor of Aeronautics Anatol Roshko. It is defined as
\mathrm{Ro} = {f L^{2}\over \nu} =\mathrm{St}\,\mathrm{Re}
\mathrm{St}= {f L\over U},
\mathrm{Re} = {U L\over \nu}
where
- St is the dimensionless Strouhal number;
- Re is the Reynolds number;
- U is mean stream velocity;
- f is the frequency of vortex shedding;
- L is the characteristic length (for example hydraulic diameter);
- ν is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid.
Correlations
Roshko determined the correlation[1] below from experiments on the flow of air around circular cylinders over range Re=50 to Re=2000:
\mathrm{Ro} = 0.212 \mathrm{Re} - 4.5valid over [ 50 <= Re < 200]\mathrm{Ro} = 0.212 \mathrm{Re} - 2.7valid over [200 <= Re < 2000]
Ormières and Provansal[2] investigated vortex shedding in the wake of a sphere and found a relationship between Re and Ro in the range 280 < Re < 360.
Notes
References
- Olim, A. M.; Riethmuller, M. L.; Gameiro da Silva, M. C. (2002). "Flowfield characterisation in the wake of a low-velocity heated sphere anemometer". Exp. Fluids. 32 (6): 645–651. Bibcode:2002ExFl...32..645O. doi:10.1007/s00348-001-0403-6. S2CID 119624650
- Ormieres, D. & Provansal, M. (1999). "Transition to turbulence in the wake of a sphere". Phys. Rev. Lett.. 83 (1): 80–83. Bibcode:1999PhRvL..83...80O. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.80
- Roshko, Anatol (1952). On the development of turbulent wakes from vortex streets (Ph.D.). California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/4WDN-9807