Simultaneous measurement of the distributed longitudinal strain and velocity field for a cantilevered cylinder exposed to turbulent cross flow

Abstract The structural response of a cantilevered cylinder under free-stream conditions both with low and high turbulence intensity generated by turbulence-generating grids is analysed with concurrent measurements of the velocity field and the distributed strain. The thin-walled cylinder, with a diameter ( D ) of 50 mm, is mounted in a water flume as a cantilevered beam supported at one end, with 95% of its body submerged and exposed to cross flow yielding a Reynolds number of Re = 25000. We employ a novel combination of simultaneous particle image velocimetry and distributed strain measurements using Rayleigh backscattering fibre optic sensors. These sensors are embedded onto the surface of the cylinder to measure the experienced strain ( $$\varepsilon $$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>ε</mml:mi> </mml:math> ) of the structure along its spanwise direction, covering both the windward and leeward faces of the cylinder. The sensors fine spatial resolution allows us to discern the influence of the flow on the structural response of the cylinder in two distinct regions of the structure: upstream and downstream of the mean separation location. This differentiation allows us to isolate the local effects introduced by the free-stream conditions on the loading events over the body from the global force generated by the vortex shedding and other coherent motions present within the flow. Distinguishing between these direct and indirect effects helps determine which is more relevant for fatigue-life cycle analysis. The cross power spectral density between the fluctuating velocity field and the strain reveals that the load is dominated by the vortex shedding, and this relationship is intensified with the introduction of free-stream turbulence. It also helps to discern the different dynamics imposed by the two free-stream turbulence conditions.