Experimental investigation of vortex-induced aeroelastic effects on a square cylinder in uniform flow

To investigate the motion-induced aeroelastic effects (or aerodynamic feedback effects) on a square cylinder in uniform flow, a series of wind tunnel tests involving the pressure measurement of a rigid model (RM) and simultaneous measurement of the pressure and vibration of an aeroelastic model (AM) have been systematically carried out. More specifically, the aerodynamic feedback effects on the structural responses, on the mean and root-mean-square wind pressures, on the power spectra and coherence functions of wind pressures at selected locations, and on the aerodynamic forces were investigated. The results indicated the vibration in the lock-in range made the shedding vortex more coherent and better organized, and hence presented unfavorable wind-induced effects on the structure. Whereas the vibration in the non-lock-in range generally showed insignificant effects on the flow structures surrounding the square cylinder.