In this Letter numerical evidence for a new period‐doubling mechanism in free shear flows is presented. As a case study, the three‐dimensional flow in the wake of an infinitely long circular cylinder at Reynolds number 300 is considered. It is shown that the flow in the wake doubles its period of oscillation by alternating between oscillation modes, which are identical in every respect, except from their spanwise structure. There is no merging of vortices, and the flow preserves its basic vortex‐street structure.
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© 1992 American Institute of Physics.
1992
American Institute of Physics
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