A visualization method is used to obtain the main features of the hydrodynamic field for flow past a circular cylinder moving at a uniform speed in a direction perpendicular to its generating lines in a tank filled with a viscous liquid. Photographs are presented to show the particular fineness of the experimental technique. More especially, the closed wake and the velocity distribution behind the obstacle are investigated; the changes in the geometrical parameters describing the eddies with Reynolds number (5 < Re < 40) and with the ratio λ between the diameters of the cylinder and tank are given. A comparison with existing numerical and experimental results is presented and some remarks are made about the calculation techniques proposed up to the present. The limits of the Reynolds-number range for which the twin vortices exist and adhere stably to the cylinder are determined.
