Given the emphasis on carbon-free energy, power system minimization, and decentralized power generation, the development of vibration-based energy harvesting technologies has become a topic of great interest over the past 20 years. A typical aeroelastic energy harvesting scheme involves immersing a thin, elastic structure in a fluid flow. Under certain conditions, the presence of the flow brings about a structural self-excited vibration, known as flutter, resulting in periodic oscillations. Via affixed piezo-electric materials, electrical energy can be harvested from these structural oscillations, and this sort of energy holds promise as an alternative energy source. To effectively and efficiently harvest energy from this system, one must understand the qualitative features of the resulting limit cycle oscillation.

This project derives and analyzes PDE models for the post-flutter behavior of cantilevered structures in an axial flow of fluid. Specifically, it: