Turbulence-Induced Plate Vibrations: Some Effects of Fluid Loading on Finite and Infinite Plates

Abstract

The effects of a fluid environment on the flow-induced vibration of finite and infinite plates are theoretically examined. Qualitative effects of fluid loading are deduced from the mathematical models. Examples of computed flow-induced vibration statistics for identical plates, with and without water loading, illustrate the quantitative effects of fluid loading. The fluid environment exerts forces on the plate in temporal phase with the plate inertial and resistive forces. For heavy fluids (i.e., water), the inertial component of the fluid loading is several orders of magnitude greater than the resistive component. Comparison of fluid-loaded finite and infinite plate statistics reveals that the infinite plate velocity spectral density provides a good approximation to the level and general shape of the finite plate velocity spectral density. However, the cross-spectral characteristics of the infinite and finite plate vibrations are substantially different.