  The flow past a fixed finite-length circular cylinder, the axis of which
makes a nonzero angle with the incoming stream, is studied through
fully-resolved simulations, from creeping-flow conditions to strongly inertial
regimes. The investigation focuses on the way the body aspect ratio $\chi$
(defined as as the length-to-diameter ratio), the inclination angle $\theta$
with respect to the incoming flow and the Reynolds number $\text{Re}$ (based on
the cylinder diameter) affect the flow structure past the body and therefore
the hydrodynamic loads acting on it. The configuration $\theta=0^\circ$ (where
the cylinder is aligned with the flow) is considered first, from creeping-flow
conditions up to $\text{Re}=400$, with aspect ratios up to $20$ ($10$) for
$\text{Re}\leq10$ ($\text{Re}\geq10$). In the low-to-moderate Reynolds number
regime ($\text{Re}\lesssim5$), influence or the aspect ratio, inclination (from
$0^{\circ}$ to $30^{\circ}$), and inertial effects is examined by comparing
numerical results for the axial and transverse force components and the
spanwise torque with theoretical predictions based on the slender-body
approximation, possibly incorporating finite-Reynolds-number corrections.
Semiempirical models based on these predictions and incorporating finite-length
and inertial corrections extracted from the numerical data are derived. For
large enough Reynolds numbers ($\text{Re}\gtrsim10^2$), separation takes place
along the upstream part of the lateral surface of the cylinder, deeply
influencing the surface stress distribution. Numerical results are used to
build empirical models for the force components and the torque, valid for
moderately inclined cylinders ($|\theta|\lesssim30^\circ$) of arbitrary aspect
ratio up to $\text{Re}\approx300$ and matching those obtained at
low-to-moderate Reynolds number.
