The flow-induced vibration of a flexible strip hanging vertically in a parallel flow - Part 1: Temporal aeroelastic instability

The effect of several parameters in a fluid-strip system are studied for linear/nonlinear models in detail. Such parameters are: the number of modes in the Galerkin discretization, the length of the strip, and the flow velocity. The present simulation clearly shows that when nonlinear forces are considered the response approaches a flutter-type limit cycle at supercritical flow speeds. The Reynolds number at which the strip begins to oscillate is about 10(4)-10(5). With a further increase of the flow velocity the strip oscillates regularly. At higher flow velocities the oscillation becomes violent and irregular. The amplitude, frequency and drag coefficient at the limit cycle are presented as functions of the flow velocity for a given strip. The numerical predictions are in qualitative agreement with previous experimental data. (C) 2001 Academic Press.