DPIV Around a Flexible Circular Cylinder Undergoing Cross-Flow Forced Oscillations

This research is motivated by early experiments [1, 2], in which the main time consistent flow structures in the wake of a flexible oscillating circular cylinder were studied. We have now investigated the wake of a circular cylinder undergoing forced vibrations, by using Planar Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV) and long exposure photographs for flow visualisation. The focus is given to the node to anti-node transition when the cylinder oscillates in its second structural mode. A flexible cylinder is supported by a structure consisting of a frame that includes a motor that drives a shaft, that actuates a pusher connected to the cylinder at two points, through a crank slider mechanism. We are able to produce forced oscillations of the cylinder, either in its first mode when the pushers are in phase, or in its second mode if the pushers are configured out-of-phase. We have used a high speed camera together with a continuous wave laser, to image seeding particles being illuminated by the laser sheet, at two different heights along the length of the cylinder: the node and the anti-node. We have also produced long exposure images of the particles leading to flow visualisation.