Flow-induced snap-through dynamics of an elastic sheet

Abstract

Flow-induced vibration and aeroelastic flutter have been considered to be an attractive energy source in renewable energy harvesting systems. In this thesis, a novel mechanism of a periodic vibration based on snap-through motion is reported. The stability and post-critical behaviours of periodic snapping under an external uniform flow are investigated experimentally by changing certain geometric parameters, such as the initial buckled shape with an angle of inclination at both ends, free-stream velocity, and fluid density. Experimental measurements are supported by theoretical analysis. Then, a new concept of energy harvesting system that uses the snap-through motion and collision with rigid wall is presented. The snap-through based triboelectric nanogenerator exhibits power generation performance superior to that of existing flutter-based systems, suggesting its potential applications in powering electric devices.