Experiments on the stability and drag of a flexible sheet under in-plane tension in uniform flow

A flexible sheet in uniform parallel flow is studied in order to quantify its fluid dynamic drag and fluid–elastic stability characteristics. An experimental campaign is undertaken that involves a cantilevered sheet in air flow characterised by Reynolds numbers of order R=104–106R=104–106. The properties of the sheet include: constant mass per unit area; small but finite flexural rigidity; varying aspect ratios from within the range 0.43