In addition to investigations of vortical flows in the fields of aeronautics and space, the Institute of Aeroelastics also carries out experiments to investigate the flow around bluff bodies in civil engineering, in the maritime sector, and in the wind energy sector. Examples are, among others, the flow around pillars of an offshore wind turbine or drilling platform and around the hull of a tanker, the wind flow around buildings, power lines, and cables of a cable-stayed bridge, as well as dynamic stall on wind turbine blades. They all have in common that distinct vortices occur in their wake flow. The associated unsteady aerodynamic forces on the structure lead to vibrations that can be attributed to vortex resonance, wake-galloping or flutter. In various projects, extensive wind tunnel tests are being carried out to identify the phenomena that occur, their data enabling a further development and optimisation of numerical simulation methods. They all have in common that distinct vortices occur in their wake flow. The associated unsteady aerodynamic forces on the structure lead to vibrations that can be attributed to vortex resonance, wake-galloping or flutter. In various projects, extensive wind tunnel tests are being carried out to identify the phenomena that occur, their data enabling a further development and optimisation of numerical simulation methods. From the physical understanding of the occurring, time-dependent flow processes, measures or criteria can be derived which can then be used for an optimization of the design to damp or avoid these undesired vibrations.
The institute is devoted to these challenges in the context of the unsteady aerodynamics of bluff bodies of the areas: