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Analysis of three-dimensional attributes and flow intake for an oscillating cantilever

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Abstract

Macro-sized cantilevers oscillating in a fluid have been employed in applications ranging from thermal management to propulsion. The flow field generated upstream and downstream of the cantilever remains insufficiently understood. In order to properly control the resulting flow, further experimental and numerical studies are needed. From a two-dimensional perspective, comprehensive analysis has been done in other research, primarily through employing a single cantilever whose width is much larger than the vibration amplitude. However, when analyzing a region near an oscillating corner of the cantilever, where two edges of the slender cantilever meet, the flow becomes extremely three-dimensional, rendering the two-dimensional analysis tools less useful. This study seeks to further understand the highly three-dimensional nature of the flow in addition to providing further insight into optimized flow control. Two perpendicular flow planes are analyzed in order to gather the x, y and z-directional flow velocities using standard particle image velocimetry measurements. It is shown that under certain circumstances, the resulting flow is atypical of what one would expect from a simple extrapolation from previous two-dimensional flow analyses. Examples of this are a decrease in maximum vorticity, stretching of the vortex shape and movement of the vortex that is incongruent with previous two-dimensional research. For future implementation plans into actual products, geometry of surrounding walls must be considered. The data are analyzed in this light and a preliminary optimized enclosure geometry is proposed.

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Abbreviations

D :

Width of the fan

h :

Tip vibration amplitude

L :

Length of exposed portion (i.e., not covered by piezoelectric patch) of cantilever

L p :

Length of the piezoelectric patch

L t :

Total length of the Mylar blade

t :

Thickness of the cantilever

t p :

Thickness of the piezoelectric patch

U :

Flow velocity

ω :

Oscillation frequency

ν :

Kinematic viscosity

x :

x-direction

y :

y-direction

z :

z-direction

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mr. Eric Thorhauer from the University of Pittsburgh for his time collecting PIV data. This work was partially funded through the Central Research Development Fund at the University of Pittsburgh.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, 206 Benedum Hall, 3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Andrew Eastman & Mark L. Kimber

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  1. Andrew Eastman
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  2. Mark L. Kimber
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Correspondence to Mark L. Kimber.

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Eastman, A., Kimber, M.L. Analysis of three-dimensional attributes and flow intake for an oscillating cantilever. Exp Fluids 55, 1664 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-014-1664-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-014-1664-1

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