This paper presents results of three-dimensional direct numerical simulations (DNS) and global linear stability analyses of a viscous incompressible flow past a finite-length cylinder with two free flat ends. The cylindrical axis is normal to the streamwise direction. The work focuses on the effects of aspect ratios (in the range of
$0.5\leq {\small \text{AR}} \leq 2$
, cylinder length over diameter) and Reynolds numbers (
$Re\leq 1000$
based on cylinder diameter and uniform incoming velocity) on the onset of vortex shedding in this flow. All important flow patterns have been identified and studied, especially as
${\small \text{AR}}$
changes. The appearance of a steady wake pattern when
${\small \text{AR}} \leq 1.75$
has not been discussed earlier in the literature for this flow. Linear stability analyses based on the time-mean flow has been applied to understand the Hopf bifurcation past which vortex shedding happens. The nonlinear DNS results indicate that there are two vortex shedding patterns at different
$Re$
, one is transient and the other is nonlinearly saturated. The vortex-shedding frequencies of these two flow patterns correspond to the eigenfrequencies of the two global modes in the stability analysis of the time-mean flow. Wherever possible, we compare the results of our analyses to those of the flows past other short-
${\small \text{AR}}$
bluff bodies in order that our discussions bear more general meanings.
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