Measurements of flow-induced vibration of a flexible splitter plate mounted on a cylinder in free stream flow

We experimentally study flow-induced vibration (FIV) of a thin, cantilevered, flexible plate attached on the lee side of a circular cylinder in a free stream airflow. The Reynolds number (ReD) based on the diameter of the cylinder was varied in the range of (4 × 103, 5×104). The plates of different lengths and the same span were tested with varying airflow velocities (U) in a wind tunnel. The reduced velocity (UR) based on the length and the second natural frequency of the plate was in the range of (1, 11). We describe the plate dynamics showing displacement, frequency, phase plane, amplitude spectral density (ASD), oscillation envelope, modal energy contribution, and flow structures. Based on the motion of the plate, three FIV regimes are observed, namely, initial excitation, transition, and lock-in. During lock-in, the plate attains self-sustained limit cycle oscillation. We observe the presence of small-amplitude higher harmonics in the ASD plot. The second mode is dominant around the onset of lock-in, while the first mode is dominant later in the lock-in regime. The dimensionless displacement increases with an increase in mass ratio (Ms) in the lock-in regime. With a decrease in Ms, the slope of the dimensionless frequency with UR increases. To explain measurements, we develop a wake oscillator model (WOM) in which the plate and fluctuating lift force are modeled as an Euler–Bernoulli cantilever beam and van der Pol oscillator, respectively. The coupled WOM qualitatively and quantitatively predict the measured amplitude and frequency response, respectively, in the lock-in regime.