Suppressing aeroelastic instability using broadband passive targeted energy transfers, part 2: Experiments

This paper presents experimental results corroborating the analysis developed in the companion paper, Part I (Lee, Y., Vakakis, A., Bergman, L., McFarland, M., and Kerschen G., "Suppression Aeroelastic Instability Using Broadband Passive Targeted Energy Transfers, Part 1: Theory," AIAA Journal, Vol. 45, No. 3, 2007, pp. 693-711), and demonstrates that a nonlinear energy sink can improve the stability of an aeroelastic system. The nonlinear energy sink was, in this case, attached to the heave (plunge) degree of freedom of a rigid airfoil which was supported in a low-speed wind tunnel by nonlinear springs separately adjustable in heave and pitch. This airfoil was found to exhibit a limit cycle oscillation at flow speeds above the critical ('flutter") speed of 9.5 m/s, easily triggered by an initial heave displacement. After attachment of a single degree of freedom, essentially nonlinear energy sink to the wing, the combined system exhibited improved dynamic response as measured by the reduction or elimination of limit cycle oscillation at flow speeds significantly greater than the wing's critical speed. The design, application, and performance of the nonlinear energy sink are described herein, and the results obtained are compared to analytical predictions. The physics of the interaction of the sink with the wing is examined in detail.