Effects of Angle of Attack on Flow-Induced Vibration of a D-Section Prism

Abstract

The VIVACE device, which utilizes flow-induced vibration for harvesting ocean current energy, has been a research hotspot in the field of renewable energy. In this study, the flow-induced vibration characteristics and energy conversion efficiency of a D-section prism were investigated using the k-ω SST turbulence model and Newmark-β method. The vibration amplitude, frequency, equilibrium position offset, and energy conversion efficiency of the two-degree-of-freedom cylinder were systematically analyzed at seven angles of attack between 0 and 180 degrees. The Reynolds number ranged from 368 to 14,742, corresponding to equivalent speeds of 2 to 20. The results indicate that the angle of attack has a significant influence on the flow-induced vibration response of the D-section prism. As the angle of attack changes, the vibration amplitude of the cylinder continuously increases, and the cylinder sequentially enters the vortex-induced vibration, vortex-induced vibration-galloping, and fully galloping branches. The change in the angle of attack disrupts the symmetry of the cylinder’s vibration in the streamwise direction, leading to a shift in the equilibrium position of the cylinder’s vibration. When the angle of attack is 0°, the energy conversion efficiency of the column reaches a maximum of 11.75%. Additionally, at high Reynolds numbers, the vibration of the cylinder is not self-limiting, making it more advantageous for energy conversion devices compared to cylinders with circular cross-sections.