The aerodynamic drag force acting on a circular cylinder clad with knitted wool and polyester textiles has
been investigated in wind tunnel experiments in this study. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was utilized to
determine the flow field, both around the separation point and a wake profile in the close wake. The drag
forces and the characteristic CD curves were determined over a range of Reynolds numbers expected to
contain flow transition, for a number of knitted textiles having different surface roughness characteristics.
The effects of knitting parameters and type of yarn on the flow field were investigated. The parameters of
interest to be examined were critical Reynolds number, separation point, growth of the wake and wake
profile. The wool and polyester textiles examined showed dissimilar effects on the flow field. Both were
clearly adding surface roughness, and hence tripping transition to turbulence at a lower Reynolds number
than for the smooth cylinder. The wool textile did however turn out be a more effective turbulence trigger
than expected.