Flow-induced vibrations with and without structural restoring force: convergence under the effect of path curvature

Abstract

When a cylinder is free to move along a transverse rectilinear path within a current, the vibrations developing with and without structural restoring force (SRF) noticeably deviate: if the elastic support is removed, their onset is delayed from a Reynolds number ( $Re$ , based on the body diameter and inflow velocity) value of approximately 20 to 30, and their peak amplitudes and frequency bandwidths are substantially reduced. The present study examines the influence of a curved path on this deviation by considering that the cylinder, mounted on an elastic support or not, is free to translate along a circular path whose radius is varied. The investigation is carried out numerically at $Re=25$ and $100$ , i.e. subcritical and postcritical values relative to the threshold of $47$ that marks the onset of flow unsteadiness for a fixed body. The principal result of this work is that the behaviours of the flow–structure systems with and without SRF tend to converge under the effect of path curvature. Beyond a certain curvature magnitude, both systems explore the same vibration ranges and the presence or absence of SRF becomes indiscernible. This convergence is accompanied by an enhancement of the responses appearing without SRF. It is analysed in light of the evolution of the effective added mass which determines the subset of responses reached with SRF that remain accessible without SRF. The apparent continuity of the physical mechanisms between the subcritical- and postcritical- $Re$ values suggests that the convergence phenomenon uncovered here could persist at higher $Re$ .