Applied Physics Seminar:"Interesting & Complex Dynamics of Fluid-Structure Interactions"

Abstract: In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the use of lighter and more advanced materials for air and sea vehicles. Compared to traditional metallic alloys, advanced polymer composites offer the advantages of significant weight savings, better fatigue performance, higher durability, and better resistance to seawater corrosion and other chemical agents. Moreover, active materials, sensors, and actuators can be embedded inside composites to develop multi-functional and AI-enabled structures that can not only bare load, but also improve performance, enable flow and structural monitoring, as well as control flow-induced vibrations and noise. To realize these advantages, it is important to understand fluid-structure interactions. Any structure that is designed to interact with the surrounding flow are intrinsically sensitive to changes in flow conditions, body manoeuvres and deformations. Bodies oscillating between air-water interfaces or in complex multiphase flows can experience hydrodynamic forces that change with time, leading to parametric excitations, lock-in, divergence, flutter, and even chaos. If not properly considered, fluid-structure interactions can lead to dynamic load amplifications, vibrations, noise, loss of control authority, stability, and even material/structural failure. On the other hand, flow-induced vibrations can be exploited to harvest renewable energy. Hence, the focus of this talk is to explore the various interesting and complex dynamics of fluid-structure interactions, with focus on maritime applications.

Short Biography: Prof. Young is a Professor at the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of Michigan. Prof. Young’s research focuses on the dynamic response and stability of smart marine structures in multiphase flows, with direct applications to marine vehicles, energy harvesting and energy saving devices. Prof. Young is a member of the Seakeeping Committee for the International Towing Tank Conference (ITTC), and a member of the joint ITTC-ISSC (International Ship and Offshore Structures Congress) Working Group. Prof. Young also served on the United States National Committee on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (USNC/TAM). Prof. Young has written over 250 journal and conference papers. Her research has been supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), and the National Science Foundation (NSF).