Numerical and experimental study of the three-dimensional unsteady flow field around finite
cylinders placed on a ground wall is presented. The effects of free-end shape reading flat,
hemisphere and cone top of the circular cylinder are examined. The numerical results were
obtained using the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) code, Fluent 6.3.26. The three-dimensional
unsteady flow filed is investigated using unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS)
equation along with the four equations v
2
-f turbulence model. This turbulence model is
implemented in the CFD code using User Defined Function (UDF) and User Defined Scalars
(UDS). The measurements of surface pressure distribution around the bodies are presented. The
cylinder has an aspect ratio of 1.33 (h/D = 1.33) and faces flow with Reynolds number of 1.7 x 105
based on free stream velocity and cylinder diameter. The results show that the top free surface of
the models affects the flow field, such as the development of the wake structure, recirculation zone
and the reattachment zone. The results indicate also that the hemispherical free end cylinder is
subjected to the larger flow induced vibration while the cone free end is subjected to the lowest
flow induced vibration