Vortex Dynamics of Unsteady Plate Motions

The vortex dynamics which result from unsteady motions of perforated and solid plates is studied from complementary experimental and theoretical perspectives. The flow that results from starting a perforated plate from rest is studied, and the effect of changing the plate's open area fraction is investigated. Contributions culminating in successfully holding a vortex above the leading edge of a plate while it is in motion, using real-time PIV to provide controlled feedback of the plate's motion, are also presented. These contributions include RapidPIV, a method and software which enables fluid flows to be visualized in real time at over 1000 frames per second, and a steady thin airfoil theory which makes qualitatively useful predictions about the nature of plates and thin airfoils interacting with leading-edge vortices.