Numerical Simulation for Feedback Control of Airfoil Oscillation in Incompressible Flow

Abstract

Numerical simulations of the flow around a periodically vibrating airfoil and the two-degree-of-freedom (TDOF) bending-torsion flutter characteristics were carried out. An unsteady, two-dimensional, incompressible Navier-Stokes flow solver was coupled with a two-degree-of-freedom structural model for a flutter computation. To simulate unsteady phenomena, the Navier-Stokes equations are described by the ALE method. The Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model was implemented for high Reynolds number calculations. Computations of the periodically vibrating airfoil show agreement with Theodorsen's linearized theory and the existing results of some numerical analyses. Flutter was observed in the TDOF model coupled with the flow solver when the rigidity of the airfoil was small. A control method for the flow field was studied and the airfoil flutter was stabilized by a PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) control algorithm.

Numerical Study of an Oscillating-Wing Wingmill for Ocean Current Energy Harvesting: Fluid-Solid-Body Interaction with Feedback Control

“…There is a knowledge gap in the literature concerning the effect of feedback control on oscillating foils; most investigations that contain all of these elements are related to aeroelasticity and wind energy in HAWTs. One particular case where a similar scheme was implemented is [22], where a PID controller was coupled to a CFD model for flutter control purposes. We also found a patent in the literature [23], where this scheme is considered for commercial use.…”