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1. Connections between propulsive efficiency and wake structure via modal decomposition

   Jones, Morgan R; Kanso, Eva; Luhar, Mitul (June 2024, Journal of fluid mechanics)

   We present experiments on oscillating hydrofoils undergoing combined heaving and pitching motions, paying particular attention to connections between propulsive efficiency and coherent wake features extracted using modal analysis. Time-averaged forces and particle image velocimetry measurements of the flow field downstream of the foil are presented for a Reynolds number of Re=11000 and Strouhal numbers in the range St=0.16–0.35 . These conditions produce 2S and 2P wake patterns, as well as a near-momentumless wake structure. A triple decomposition using the optimized dynamic mode decomposition method is employed to identify dominant modal components (or coherent structures) in the wake. These structures can be connected to wake instabilities predicted using spatial stability analyses. Examining the modal components of the wake provides insightful explanations into the transition from drag to thrust production, and conditions that lead to peak propulsive efficiency. In particular, we find modes that correspond to the primary vortex development in the wakes. Other modal components capture elements of bluff body shedding at Strouhal numbers below the optimum for peak propulsive efficiency and characteristics of separation for Strouhal numbers higher than the optimum. 

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2. Propulsive performance and vortex wakes of multiple tandem foils pitching in-line

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfluidstructs.2021.103422  

   Han, Pan; Pan, Yu; Liu, Geng; Dong, Haibo (January 2022, Journal of Fluids and Structures)

   Numerical studies are presented on the propulsive performance and vortex dynamics of multiple hydrofoils pitching in an in-line configuration. The study is motivated by the quest to understand the hydrodynamics of multiple fin–fin interactions in fish swimming. Using the flow conditions (Strouhal and Reynolds numbers) obtained from a solitary pitching foil of zero net thrust, the effect of phase differences between neighboring foils on the hydrodynamic performance is examined both in position-fixed two- and three-foil systems at Reynolds number Re = 500. It is found that the threefoil system achieves a thrust enhancement up to 118% and an efficiency enhancement up to 115% compared to the two-foil system. Correspondingly, the leading-edge vortex (LEV) and the trailing-edge vortex (TEV) of the hindmost foil combine to form a ‘2P’ wake structure behind the three-foil system with the optimal phase differences instead of a ‘2S’ wake, a coherent wake pattern observed behind the optimal two-foil system. The finding suggests that a position-fixed three-foil system can generate a ‘2P’ wake to achieve the maximum thrust production and propulsive efficiency simultaneously by deliberately choosing the undulatory phase for each foil. When increasing Reynolds number to 1000, though the maximum thrust and propulsive efficiency are not achieved simultaneously, the most efficient case still produces more thrust than most of the other cases. Besides, the study on the effects of three-dimensionality shows that when the foils have a larger aspect ratio, the three-foil system has a better hydrodynamic performance, and it follows a similar trend as the two-dimensional (2D) foil system. This work aids in the future design of high-performance underwater vehicles with multiple controlled propulsion elements. 

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3. Assessment of scale interactions associated with wake meandering using bispectral analysis methodologies

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taml.2024.100497  

   Kinjangi, Dinesh Kumar; Foti, Daniel (January 2024, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Letters)

   Large atmospheric boundary layer fluctuations and smaller turbine-scale vorticity dynamics are separately hypothesized to initiate the wind turbine wake meandering phenomenon, a coherent, dynamic, turbine-scale oscillation of the far wake. Triadic interactions, the mechanism of energy transfers between scales, manifest as triples of wavenumbers or frequencies and can be characterized through bispectral analyses. The bispectrum, which correlates the two frequencies to their sum, is calculated by two recently developed multi-dimensional modal decomposition methods: scale-specific energy transfer method and bispectral mode decomposition. Large-eddy simulation of a utility-scale wind turbine in an atmospheric boundary layer with a broad range of large length-scales is used to acquire instantaneous velocity snapshots. The bispectrum from both methods identifies prominent upwind and wake meandering interactions that create a broad range of energy scales including the wake meandering scale. The coherent kinetic energy associated with the interactions shows strong correlation between upwind scales and wake meandering. 

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4. Harvesting sustainable energy through vortex-induced vibrations of finite length cylinder

   https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0260317  

   Fershalov, Andrei; Elvin, Niell; Orlandini, Pieter; Avros, Ilya; Liu, Yang (April 2025, Physics of Fluids)

   Vortex-induced vibration (VIV) has emerged as a promising method for small-scale energy harvesting. This research explores the key parameters affecting VIV in a cylinder-cantilever beam system within a Reynolds number range of 400–7500. The investigation focused on identifying the airflow velocity thresholds that initiate vibrations, measuring peak vibration amplitudes, and determining the critical airflow velocities where vibrations are maximized. By systematically varying mass, stiffness, and cylinder diameter, we examined their distinct effects on system behavior. Key outcomes indicate that larger cylinder diameters lead to increased vibration amplitudes and broader operational bandwidths, while adding mass reduces the bandwidth. Higher stiffness boosts both the maximum amplitude and bandwidth, shifting these to higher airflow velocities. The lock-in regime was observed to initiate at a Strouhal number (St) between 0.175 and 0.197, with vibration cessation occurring at an approximately consistent Strouhal number for each cylinder diameter. The peak vibration amplitude occurred at St ≈ 0.16, with fluctuations of less than 5% across all models. Additionally, the wake structure behind the cylinder and its behavior across the vibration bandwidth were analyzed using flow visualization techniques. A hot-wire anemometer positioned downstream measured velocity fluctuations from vortex shedding. These findings offer practical insights for optimizing VIV-based energy harvesting, linking wake behavior to amplitude response and power output. This study contributes to the broader understanding of VIV energy harvesters and provides a foundation for validating numerical models and enhancing the efficiency of sustainable energy systems. 

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5. Flow topology changes with bubbly flow around a circular cylinder

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2024.104917  

   Thacher, Eric; Van_Ruymbeke, Bruno; Gabillet, Céline; Jacques, Nicolas; Mäkiharju, Simo A (September 2024, International Journal of Multiphase Flow)

   Vortex induced vibration (VIV) experienced during flow past a cylinder can reduce equipment performance and in some cases lead to failure. Previous studies have shown that the injection of bubbles in the flow over a cylinder typically leads to a monotonic increase in shedding frequency with void fraction, however, a satisfactory explanation for this phenomenon has not been proposed. Unexplained scatter in the data exists, including that the increase in shedding frequency is not universal. More research is needed to characterize the influence of bubbles on the wake structure, and subsequent shift in shedding frequency. To this aim, the effect of bubbles on the structure of the wake and VIV was examined over two values of Reynolds number, 𝑅𝑒𝐷 = 100, 000 and 160,000. Time-resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV), proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and spectral proper orthogonal decomposition (SPOD) of the wake structures, vibration of the cylinder, and bubble image velocimetry (BIV) were used to assess the flow topology changes under the influence of gas injection. Using SPOD/POD analysis in the near wake, it was found that the primary Karman shedding frequency decreased with the injection of gas, from a Strouhal number of St = 0.2 to St = 0.17−0.18; the width of the spectral peak was found to increase with void fraction. Notably, the vibration of the cylinder at the primary Karman shedding frequency was suppressed following the injection of gas, even at spanwiseaveraged volumetric qualities below 0.01%. This suppression occurred regardless of if gas was concentrated locally near the centerline of the channel, or along the span. BIV data suggests that gas accumulation in the near wake, driven by the high velocity vertical motion of gas, serves to uncouple the cylinder motion from the formation of the vortex street downstream while promoting faster wake recovery. 

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