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Multiple stable postures of a falling object in fluids

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 September 2024

Shuyue Sun ,
Xinliang Tian Open the ORCID record for Xinliang Tian [Opens in a new window] ,
Yakun Zhao ,
Xing Chen ,
Binrong Wen ,
Xiantao Zhang  and
Xin Li
Shuyue Sun
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China Institute of Marine Equipment, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China
Xinliang Tian*
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China Institute of Marine Equipment, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China Hainan Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sanya 572000, PR China
Yakun Zhao
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China Institute of Marine Equipment, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China
Xing Chen
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China Institute of Marine Equipment, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China
Binrong Wen
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China Institute of Marine Equipment, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China Hainan Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sanya 572000, PR China
Xiantao Zhang
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China Institute of Marine Equipment, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China Hainan Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sanya 572000, PR China
Xin Li
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China Institute of Marine Equipment, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China Hainan Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sanya 572000, PR China
*
†Email address for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

We present evidence revealing that an object with specific properties can exhibit multiple stable falling postures at low Reynolds numbers. By scrutinizing the force equilibrium relationship of a fixed object at various attack angles and Reynolds numbers, we introduce a methodology that can obtain the stable falling postures of the object. This method saves computational resources and more intuitively presents the results in the full parameter domain. Our findings are substantiated by free-fall tests conducted through both physical experiments and numerical simulations, which validate the existence of multiple stable solutions in accordance with the interpolation results obtained with fixed objects. Additionally, we quantify the abundance and distribution patterns of stable falling postures for a diverse range of representative shapes. This discovery highlights the existence of multiple stable solutions that are universally present across objects of different shapes. The implications of this research extend to the design, stability control and trajectory prediction of all free and controlled flights in both air and water.

JFM classification

Aerodynamics: Flow-structure interactions Biological Fluid Dynamics: Swimming/flying Instability: Nonlinear instability
Type
JFM Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 993 , 25 August 2024 , A17
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Supplementary material: File

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Experimental investigation of objects falling in glycerol aqueous solution.
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