Reconfiguration of Large Leaf under Wind Load

Abstract

In this study, the reconfiguration of Heliconia rostrata leaf was investigated by using fluid structure interaction (FSI) analysis at different wind speeds. In order to perform FSI analysis, the time dependent mechanical properties of petiole and lamina were modeled by using linear viscoelastic constitutive laws and the parameters were fitted from 3 point bending tests and tensile tests experimental data. Besides, in fluid domain, air is considered as incompressible fluid in this study. The drag force and banding moment of Heliconia rostrata leaf at different wind speeds (4 and 6 m/sec) under headwind condition were examined. The FSI analyses show that, compared with drag forces of rigid leaf under headwind, the drag forces of Heliconia rostrata leaf reduce 35% and 63% under 4 and 6 m/sec headwind conditions respectively. The findings of this study can help us design better flexible structures such as wind turbine blades.