Ambiguous Cylinders: a New Class of Impossible Objects

This paper presents a new class of surfaces that give two quite different appearances when they are seen from two special viewpoints. The inconsistent appearances can be perceived by simultaneously viewing them directly and in a mirror. This phenomenon is a new type of optical illusion, and we have named it the ＂ambiguous cylinder illusion＂, because it is typically generated by cylindrical surfaces. We consider why this illusion arises, and we present a mathematical method for designing ambiguous cylinders.

单、双类圆柱型杆件绕流的大涡模拟研究

通过建立不同拔模角的渐变截面正圆柱型、斜体圆柱型杆件以及阶梯圆柱杆件模型,包括单杆件与双杆件,采用大涡模拟的数值方法,采取涡粘性亚格子Smagorinsky模型封闭方程,对高雷诺数下类圆柱型杆件的绕流流动进行研究。在增加横向速度的条件下,分析了各类杆件模型气动载荷的时域、频域特性,得到了阻力系数、升力系数、周向压力系数的分布规律;分析了尾流漩涡的变化规律,以及由于涡的交替脱落导致的杆件壁面压力的变化。计算结果表明单杆件模型中当拔模角增大时阻力系数的幅值在时间周期上延后出现且幅值减小;双杆件模型中则是拔模角为3°的工况,但斜体放置时拔模角为1°主频最大,同时存在低频的峰值。周期内涡旋脱落产生一个周期升力变化的同时,产生1.5个周期的阻力变化。在气动载荷中升力系数受复杂工况的影响最大,阶梯圆柱型杆件的气动力稳定性较好。拔模角及横向风速影响杆件尾流的分布规律,使得涡的脱落点沿倾角及横向风速的下游方向偏移。