Greg Gipson, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill


Oscillations and Autorotation: Vortex induced motion of cylinders in a flow tank.


Abstract: We study the various orientational dynamics of a hinged cylinder suspended in a flow tank. The different behaviors displayed by the cylinder range from steady ori- entation to periodic oscillation and even autorotation. We illustrate these features using a phase diagram which captures the observed phe- nomena as a function of Reynolds number (Re) and reduced inertia (I*). A hydrogen bubble flow visualization technique is also used to show vortex shedding structure in the cylinders wake which results in these oscillations.

Collaborators: R. Camassa, R. McLaughlin, A. Vaidya (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)