Flutter of Finite-Span Flexible Plates in Uniform Flow

The flutter instability and response of finite-span flexible plates in uniform flow are investigated experimentally. The effects of the plate aspect ratio on its dynamic responses are mainly analyzed. A hysteretic phenomenon is observed and can be described such that the plate flutters spontaneously as the flow velocity is greater than a critical value U^*_C and the plate returns to its stable state as the flow velocity is slowly decreased to another critical one U^*_D. We find that the aspect ratio has a greater effect on U^*_C than on U^*_D. The flutter frequency decreases and the amplitude increases with the increase in the flow velocity. When the flutter instability of the plate occurs, three typical flutter modes are identified and are associated with the aspect ratio and the flow velocity.