Towards the closure of Collar’s triangle by optical diagnostics

An experimental methodology is proposed for the study of aeroelastic systems. The approach locally evaluates the forces involved in Collar’s triangle, namely aerodynamic, elastic, and inertial forces. The position of flow tracers as well as of markers on the object surface is monitored by a volumetric PIV system. From the recorded images, the flow tracers and surfare markers are separated based on their optical characteristics. The resulting images are then analysed by Lagrangian particle tracking. The inertial and elastic forces are obtained solely analysing the motion and the deformation of the solid object, whereas the aerodynamic force distribution is obtained via the pressure-from-PIV technique. Experiments are conducted on a benchmark problem of fluid-structure interaction, featuring a flexible panel installed at the trailing edge of a cylinder. A polynomial fit of the markers’ positions is carried out to determine the panel’s instantaneous shape, from which the inertial and elastic forces are evaluated. The pressure loads on the panel are determined via solution of the Poisson equation for pressure, imposing adaptive boundary conditions that comply with the panel. The simultaneous measurement of the three forces allows to assess the equilibrium of forces, and in turn to close Collar’s triangle.