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Symmetry-breaking bifurcations and subharmonic lock-in of a flexible splitter plate in cylinder wake flow

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2025

Baiyang Song Open the ORCID record for Baiyang Song [Opens in a new window] ,
Huan Ping ,
Wen-Li Chen Open the ORCID record for Wen-Li Chen [Opens in a new window] ,
Yong Cao Open the ORCID record for Yong Cao [Opens in a new window]  and
Dai Zhou
Baiyang Song
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China
Huan Ping
Affiliation:
College of Ocean Science and Engineering, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, PR China
Wen-Li Chen
Affiliation:
School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, PR China
Yong Cao*
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China Chongqing Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Chongqing 401135, PR China
Dai Zhou*
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China Shenzhen Research Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shenzhen 518063, PR China
*
Corresponding authors: Yong Cao, yongcao@sjtu.edu.cn; Dai Zhou, zhoudai@sjtu.edu.cn
Corresponding authors: Yong Cao, yongcao@sjtu.edu.cn; Dai Zhou, zhoudai@sjtu.edu.cn
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Abstract

This paper investigates the flow past a flexible splitter plate attached to the rear of a fixed circular cylinder at low Reynolds number 150. A systematic exploration of the plate length ($L/D$), flexibility coefficient ($S^{*}$) and mass ratio ($m^{*}$) reveals new laws and phenomena. The large-amplitude vibration of the structure is attributed to a resonance phenomenon induced by fluid–structure interaction. The modal decomposition indicates that resonance arises from the coupling between the first and second structural modes, where the excitation of the second structural mode plays a critical role. Due to the combined effects of added mass and periodic stiffness variations, the two modes become synchronised, oscillating at the same frequency while maintaining fixed phase difference $\pi /2$. This further results in the resonant frequency being locked at half of the second natural frequency, which is approximately three times the first natural frequency. A reduction in plate length and an increase in mass ratio are both associated with a narrower resonant locking range, while a higher mass ratio also shifts this range towards lower frequencies. A symmetry-breaking bifurcation is observed for cases with $L/D\leqslant 3.5$, whereas for $L/D=4.0$, the flow remains in a steady state with a stationary splitter plate prior to the onset of resonance. For cases with a short flexible plate and a high mass ratio, the shortened resonance interval causes the plate to return to the symmetry-breaking stage after resonance, gradually approaching an equilibrium position determined by the flow field characteristics at high flexibility coefficients.

JFM classification

Aerodynamics: Flow-structure interactions Vortex Flows: Vortex shedding

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Type
JFM Papers
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Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 1025 , 25 December 2025 , A47
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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