Improving the energy harvesting performance of clamped flexible plates using vortex shedding behind bluff bodies: A computational study

Abstract

This study assesses flow-induced vibrations of clamped flexible plates with the objective of improving their energy harvesting performance. Toward this, a rectangular bluff body is placed between the two clamped flexible plates to harness the vortices generated behind the bluff body. The strain energy of the plate is used as a measure of energy harvesting performance. Computational studies are performed for different parameters of interest, such as dimensions and material properties of the plate and dimensions and locations of the bluff body. The effects of these stated parameters on flow-induced vibration response and vortical structures are investigated, and the optimal values for the location and geometry of the bluff body, as well as the aspect ratio and Young's modulus of the plate for energy harvesting performance, are determined. The results show that vortex shedding from the bluff body strongly influences the dynamic behavior and energy output of the flexible structures inside the wake region of the bluff body at different locations. Additionally, the aspect ratio and its effect on vorticity and energy harvesting are discussed in detail, along with the average displacement and average lift force experienced by the plates. The outcomes of this work offer significant insights into optimizing the design of clamped flexible plates for optimal energy generation by cleverly exploiting the vortex shedding behind fixed bluff bodies.