Wind tunnel experiments on chaotic dynamics of a flexible tube row in a cross flow
George Muntean, Francis C. Moon · OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) · 1994
Flow visualization and dynamics measurements of flexible cylindrical tubes in a cross-flow are described. Five tubes mounted on flexible supports were subjected to cross flow in a low turbulence wind tunnel. Dynamic measurements of the tube motion are presented. The data suggests that a low dimensional attractor exists for tube flutter under impact constraints using fractal dimension calculations. There is also qualitative evidence for single tube flutter in-line with the flow. In another set of experiments, a flow visualization technique is used to examine the flow behind the vibrating cylinders. Four different configurations of the jet flow behind the cylinders are observed. Coupling of the jet dynamics and tube motion seems apparent from the video data. These experiments are being used to try and construct a low order nonlinear model for the tube-flow dynamics.