| In the present study we investigate the flapping instability of a light, soft, highly cambered membrane subject to wind loading. An original in-situ experiment is developed where time-resolved pressures and forces are measured on a full-scale yacht downwind sail called a spinnaker. Particular features of this aero-elastic problem are that the membrane is weakly constrained – held only at three corners –, has a free leading edge, and has no proper shape in the absence of wind loading. In usual operating conditions, the soft structure is subject to a flapping instability giving rise to almost periodic folding and unfolding of the fore part of the sail, associated to strong variations of pressures and forces. This dynamic behavior is analyzed in detail and... |
