Fluid-Structure Interactions: Vortex Dynamics and Energy Harvesting

This lecture explores unsteady deformations of elastic structures driven by vortex shedding, focusing on the observations made by the instructor. The presentation covers the experimental setup, kinematics, dynamics, and wake flow analysis of circular shells and compliant membrane disks. It delves into the impact of Reynolds number, deformation, and drag coefficients on the behavior of structures in fluid flows. Additionally, the lecture discusses the application of these principles in energy harvesting from tidal flows and the design of oscillating flow turbines for efficient energy extraction from water currents.