Design and Computational Analysis of a Bioinspired Vortex-Induced Vibration Wind Harvester

Koh, Amelia Pei Yi (2026) Design and Computational Analysis of a Bioinspired Vortex-Induced Vibration Wind Harvester. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

Text AMELIA KOH PEI YI _ Full Text.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (2MB)

Abstract

The growing demand for the sustainable power solution in Internet of Things (IoT) application accelerated the development of flow-induced vibration (FIV) energy harvester as alternative to conventional batteries. Nevertheless, conventional cylindrical vortex-induced vibration (VIV) systems suffer from narrow locking bandwidths, limiting effectiveness under low wind speeds. This study investigated the effects of bioinspired petal features, inspired from Amaryllis flower, on fluid-structure interaction and expand operating bandwidth for energy harvesting. Variations in petal edge profiles (circular, rounded, and sharp) and petal inner spacing (0.67d3, d3, and 1.5d3) were systematically investigated. A two-dimensional numerical framework in static mesh using unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations with k–ω shear-stress transfer (SST) turbulence model was implemented in ANSYS Fluent and coupled with one-way fluid-structure interaction (FSI) in ANSYS Mechanical. Simulations were conducted at wind speed range (0.5m/s to 2.5m/s), which is laminar to turbulent transition region. Key parametric parameters, including root-mean-square lift coefficient, Strouhal number, and mean drag coefficient, were evaluated. Results demonstrated that all configurations exhibited a stable periodic vortex shedding. Reference model achieved highest lift fluctuation while wide spacing configuration significantly suppressed vibration by 92.18%. Furthermore, proposed design indicated broader synchronization range (U* = 3.5 - 7.5) than the conventional cylinder (U*= 3.5 - 5.5), demonstrating improved robustness under varying flow conditions. Overall, the bioinspired petal-based design enhances vortex-induced vibration performance and extends operational bandwidth, demonstrating strong potential for efficient energy harvesting applications