Theory and experiments on the dynamics of a free-clamped cylinder in confined axial air-flow

Dynamics of a flexible cantilevered cylinder in confined axial flow is investigated theoretically and experimentally, in the case where the flow is directed from the free end towards the clamped one. First, the dynamical behaviour is described, as observed in ad hoc experiments with air flow: the system develops small-amplitude first-mode oscillations at low flow velocities, which could be flutter, and at higher flows the oscillatory behaviour is succeeded by a static divergence. Then, a relatively simple, linear theoretical model for the system is developed, and the theoretically predicted behaviour is compared to that observed. The model captures the essentials of the observed behaviour.