Dynamic Behavior of Tandem Perforated Elastic Vortex Generators Using Two-Way Coupled Fluid-Structure Interaction Simulations

TL;DR

This paper uses advanced simulations to analyze how perforated elastic vortex generators behave dynamically, revealing how porosity influences flow regimes, natural frequencies, and vortex shedding, with implications for flow control.

Contribution

It introduces high-fidelity two-way coupled simulations to study perforated EVGs, highlighting the effects of porosity on dynamic modes, natural frequencies, and wake behavior, which were not previously detailed.

Findings

Porosity suppresses cavity oscillation modes.

Vortex-induced vibrations lock onto the second natural frequency.

Perforation shifts mode transitions to lower rigidity and higher mass ratios.

Abstract

This study presents high-fidelity, two-way coupled fluid-structure interaction simulations to investigate the dynamic behavior of tandem perforated elastic vortex generators across a wide range of bending rigidity, mass ratio, and porosity, at a fixed Reynolds number and interspacing. Comparative simulations with non-perforated EVGs are also performed. Three response modes, lodging, vortex-induced vibration, and static reconfiguration, are observed in both configurations, while a distinct cavity oscillation mode emerges exclusively in non-perforated tandem EVGs. This mode is entirely suppressed with porosity due to disruption of the low-pressure cavity and increased flow transmission through pores. Frequency analyses reveal that vortex-induced vibration is consistently locked onto the second natural frequency, whereas the cavity oscillation mode is locked onto the first natural frequency and closely aligns with the first Rossiter mode, underscoring its distinct physical origin. Perforation modifies the natural frequency of the EVGs, shifting the lock-in and mode transitions toward lower bending rigidity and higher mass ratio values, and reducing oscillation amplitudes due to motion damping. Drag analysis shows consistently higher upstream drag due to wake shielding, while porosity reduces upstream drag and increases downstream drag by restoring streamwise momentum. Flow visualizations demonstrate that vortex shedding originates at the EVG tips, with perforated configurations producing smaller, more dissipative vortical structures. These results establish that porosity fundamentally alters dynamic regimes, suppresses cavity-driven instabilities, and enables passive modulation of wake dynamics in tandem EVG systems.