Cette thèse porte sur la réalisation et l'étude de systèmes hybrides d'interface entre une couche magnétique et un supraconducteur. Tout d'abord, nous avons réalisé et étudié des structures magnétiques mésoscopiques dont les propriétés magnétiques ont été modulées par l'effet de la dimensionnalité du système (épaisseur et taille latérale). Deux types des structures ont été considérés. La première est constituée par des couches minces de pérovskite LaSrMnO. Par une étude complexe nous avons réussi à démontrer la corrélation directe entre l'incorporation de l'oxygène dans le LaSrMnO et l'évolution de ses propriétés structurales, magnétiques et électriques. Une deuxième classe de matériaux magnétiques étudiés est constituée des métaux de transition (Co) et des alliages (Ni80Fe20). Les couches ont étés structurées par lithographie optique et gravure ionique sous forme d'objets de taille micronique. Par la suite, ces structures ferromagnétiques ont été interfacées avec des films minces constitués d'un supraconducteur à haute température : YBaCuO. L'objectif ultime de cette étude a été le contrôle de la dynamique des vortex dans le supraconducteur par deux types de mécanismes: intrinsèque ou les centres de pinning sont les défauts structuraux dans le film supraconducteur et un mécanisme extrinsèque lié à l'influence des modulations du champ magnétique généré par la structure magnétique mésoscopique adjacente. / The present thesis deals with the fabrication and study of hybrid, ferromagnetic/superconducting, interface systems. Magnetic mezoscopic systems, whose magnetic properties were modulated by the dimensionality (thickness and lateral size) of the systems was studied. Two types of structures were considered. The first consisted of perovskite-like epitaxial LaSrMnO thin films. We have demonstrated the direct correlation between oxygen incorporation in the LaSrMnO lattice and the evolution of its structural, magnetic and electric properties. A second class of magnetic materials that has been studied consisted of transition metals (Co) and alloys (Ni80Fe20). We have defined micronic objects from the as-deposited films, by means of optical lithography and ion beam etching. These structures were then integrated to form an interface with thin epitaxial high Tc superconducting films: YBaCuO. The ultimate goal of the above studies was the control of vortex dynamics within the superconducting layer by two mechanisms: the first, intrinsic, in which flux pinning is achieved by structural defects within the superconducting film, and a second one, extrinsic, correlated with influence of the magnetic field modulations created by the adjacent mezoscopic magnetic structure.

La rencontre entre une couche limite laminaire se développant sur une plaque plane sous une surface libre et un obstacle rectangulaire émergent mène à l’apparition d’une zone de recirculation complexe appelée tourbillon en fer à cheval à l’amont de l’obstacle. Cette zone de recirculation est composée d’un certain nombre de vortex s’enroulant autour de l’obstacle et pouvant présenter des dynamiques variées. Le but de ce travail est de réaliser une étude expérimentale paramétrique du tourbillon en fer à cheval laminaire et faiblement turbulent. Les mesures sont réalisées par PIV et par trajectographies et des méthodes de détection basés sur la décomposition modale (POD) et la détection des points critiques sont utilisées afin de faciliter l’étude de la dynamique tourbillonnaire. Ce manuscrit se propose de : (i) Déterminer l’évolution des caractéristiques du tourbillon en fer à cheval en fonction des paramètres adimensionnels de l’écoulement. (ii) Mettre en place une typologie des différentes dynamiques exhibées. (iii) Déterminer les mécanismes à l’origine de l’apparition de ces différentes dynamiques à l’aide d’un modèle conceptuel. (iv) Et finalement, étudier l’influence de la longueur de l’obstacle sur le tourbillon en fer à cheval. / A laminar boundary layer developing under a free-surface and interacting with an emerging obstacle lead to the creation of a complex recirculation zone called horseshoe vortex upstream from the obstacle. This recirculation zone is composed of a given number of vortices wrapping around the obstacle with various kind of dynamics. The aim of this work is to perform an experimental parametric study of the laminar, and slightly turbulent horseshoe vortex. Measurements are obtained by PIV and trajectographies and detection method based on modal decomposition (POD) and critical points are used to ease the study of the vortex dynamics. This manuscript intends to : (i) Explain the horseshoe vortex main characteristics evolution with the non-dimensional parameters of the flow. (ii) Define a typology of the different observed vortex dynamics. (iii) Identify the physical mechanisms at the origin of those dynamics through the use of a conceptual model. (iv) And finally, show the influence of the obstacle length on the horseshoe vortex.

Dans cette thèse, on s'est intéressé à la dynamique des poches de tourbillon pour des équations issues de la mécanique des fluides posées dans le plan. La thèse est composée de trois partie indépendantes. Un des objectifs est d'établir l'existence des tourbillons uniformément concentrés et rigides, c’est-à-dire, qui ne se déforment pas lors de l'évolution. Nous analysons deux configurations liées à la nature topologique du support: poches simplement et doublement connexes. Nos solutions sont obtenues via des techniques de bifurcations et d'analyse complexe. Le deuxième objectif est d'obtenir des précisions sur la structure globale du diagramme de bifurcation et sa réponse vis-à-vis des petites perturbations dans le modèle. Plus précisément, dans le deuxième chapitre on prouve l'existence de V-states doublement connexes dans un voisinage de l'anneau pour le modèle des surfaces quasi-géostrophique. On montre que l'on peut construire des branches de solutions qui sont des anneaux perturbés pour certaines valeurs explicites de vitesses angulaires qui sont liées aux fonctions hypergéométriques de Gauss et aux fonctions de Bessel. Le troisième chapitre porte sur l'étude de la structure du diagramme de bifurcation dans le cas doublement connexes pour l'équation d'Euler. Numériquement, près d'un cas dégénéré, les deux branches issues des deux vitesses angulaires possibles semblaient se rejoindre pour former un lacet. Nous avons prouvé analytiquement ce résultat. Le quatrième chapitre porte sur le modèle shallow water quasi-géostrophique. Dans une première partie, on prouve l'existence de V-states simplement connexes dans un voisinage du tourbillon de Rankine pour un nombre dénombrable de vitesses angulaires liées aux fonctions de Bessel modifiées. La deuxième partie porte sur la réponse du diagramme de bifurcation lorsque l'on fait varier un paramètre du modèle. On montre en particulier qu'une singularité présente lors d'un cas limite est éclatée. Notre étude analytique a été complétée par des simulations numériques portant sur les V-states limites pour les symétries deux et trois. / In this dissertation, we are concerned with the vortex dynamics for some equations arising in fluid mechanics. We distinguish three independent parts. One of the objectives is to prove the existence of uniformly concentrated rigid vortices, they do not change their shapes during the motion. We examine two configurations related to the topological nature of the support: simply and doubly connected vortex patches. Our solutions are obtained using bifurcation arguments and complex analysis tools. The second objective is to obtain some precisions on the global structure of the bifurcation diagram and its response to small perturbations. More precisely, in the second chapter we prove the existence of doubly connected V-states in a neighborhood of the annulus for the surface quasi-geostrophic model. We check that we can construct some branches of solutions which are perturbated annulus at some angular velocities related to hypergeometric Gauss functions and Bessel functions. The goal of the third chapter is to study the structure of the bifurcation diagram in the doubly connected case for Euler equations. Numerically, close to a degenerate case, the two branches of solutions come from the two angular velocities seems to merge to form a loop. We prove analytically this result. In the last chapter, we focus on the shallow quasi-geostrophic model. In the first part, we prove the existence of the simply V-states in a neighborhood of the Rankine Vortices for a countable number of angular velocities related to modified Bessel functions. In the second part, we study the reaction of the diagram bifurcation for small perturbations of the parameter. In particular, we prove that some singularities are broken due to a resonance phenomenon. Our analytical study is completed by numerical simulations on the limiting V-states for the two and three fold symetries.

Orientador: Oscar Ferreira de Lima / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Fisica Gleb Wataglin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-24T18:20:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Oliveira_TarcisoMesquitade_M.pdf: 3236428 bytes, checksum: f8799c6f4d4ac1a196ca499b0ad67efb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: Nesta tese estudamos possíveis origens do Segundo Pico da Magnetização (SPM) em supercondutores de alta e baixa temperatura crítica, usando amostras monocristalinas de Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+d e de Nb. Para estudar o SPM fizemos medidas de curvas de magnetização M x H e suscetibilidade AC (vs. h e T). Através da aplicação de uma lei de escala, para suscetibilidade AC, obtivemos o expoente de creep na região do SMP. Em amostras de Nb verificamos os efeitos sobre as curvas M x H de não homogeneidades na amostra: deslocamentos de planos e oxigênio intersticial. Em amostras de alta pureza (bulk e monocristalina) observamos que as curvas M x H não apresentam o SPM nem o Efeito Pico, próximo a Hc2.Ao adicionar não homogeneidades nas amostras, através de dopagem com oxigênio e deformação por elongação, observamos o aparecimento do Efeito Pico, de instabilidades termomagnéticas e de anisotropia do campo Hc2. Em amostras de Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+d observamos que o SPM está associado com a componente do campo aplicado paralela à direção c da rede cristalina, ou seja, que o SPM está relacionado com vórtices de Abrikosov e que vórtices Josephson parecem não influenciar no SPM. Ao clivarmos a amostra observamos que a intensidade do SPM se reduz e diminui a janela de temperatura onde ele é visto. Obtivemos o expoente de creep e observamos que na região do SPM o arrasto dos vórtices diminui em campos que antecedem o HSPM , mas na região de HSPM o arrasto aumenta rapidamente e depois volta a cessar. Interpretamos a variação brusca no expoente de creep como uma mudança de fase no sistema de vórtices, que passa de um estado de quase-rede para um estado emaranhado de vórtices / Abstract: In this thesis we have studied possible origins for the Second Magnetization Peak (SMP) in high and low critical temperature superconductors, using samples of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+d and Nb single crystals. To study the SMP we did measurements of magnetization curves (M x H) and AC susceptibility (vs. h and T). We obtained the creep exponent in the SMP region, using a scaling law for the AC susceptibility data. In the Nb samples we have verified the effects on M x H curves due to inhomogeneities like dislocations and interstitial oxygen. In high pure samples (bulk and single crystals) we have observed that the M x H curves do not present either SMP or Peak Effect, near H2c . By adding inhomogeneities in the samples, like doping them with oxygen or deforming by elongation, we have observed the appearance of Peak Effect, thermomagnetic instabilities, and H2c anisotropy. In Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+d samples we have observed that the SMP is associated with the magnetic field component parallel to the crystal c direction of crystal net. This means that the SMP is related to Abrikosov¿s vortices and that Josephson¿s vortices seem not to influence the SMP. After cleaving the sample we observed that the SMP intensity was reduced and the temperature window were it occurs was decreased. We have obtained the creep exponent and have observed that in the SMP region the vortices creep diminish for fields below HSPM , but around HSPM the creep increases abruptly and after the SPM it decreases again. We have interpreted the abrupt creep exponent variation as a phase transition in the vortex system, that pass from a quasi-lattice state to an entangled vortex state / Mestrado / Física / Mestre em Física

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Neste trabalho abordamos a teoria de Ginzburg-Landau da supercondutividade (teoria GL). Apresentamos suas origens, características e resultados mais importantes. A idéia fundamental desta teoria e descrever a transição de fase que sofrem alguns metais de uma fase normal para uma fase supercondutora. Durante uma transição de fase em supercondutores do tipo II é característico o surgimento de linhas de fluxo magnético em determinadas regiões de tamanho finito chamadas comumente de vórtices. A dinâmica destas estruturas topológicas é de grande interesse na comunidade científica atual e impulsiona incontáveis núcleos de pesquisa na área da supercondutividade. Baseado nisto estudamos como essas estruturas topológicas influenciam em uma transição de fase em um modelo bidimensional conhecido como modelo XY. No modelo XY vemos que os principais responsáveis pela transição de fase são os vórtices (na verdade pares de vórtice-antivórtice). Villain, observando este fato, percebeu que poderia tornar explícita a contribuição desses defeitos topológicos na função de partição do modelo XY realizando uma transformação de dualidade. Este modelo serve como inspiração para a proposta deste trabalho. Apresentamos aqui um modelo baseado em considerações físicas sobre sistemas de matéria condensada e ao mesmo tempo utilizamos um formalismo desenvolvido recentemente na referência [29] que possibilita tornar explícita a contribuição dos defeitos topológicos na ação original proposta em nossa teoria. Após isso analisamos alguns limites clássicos e finalmente realizamos as flutuações quânticas visando obter a expressão completa da função correlação dos vórtices o que pode ser muito útil em teorias de vórtices interagentes (dinâmica de vórtices). / In this work we introduced the Ginzburg-Landau theory of superconductivity (GL theory). We have shown your foundations, features and more important results. The fundamental idea of this theory is to describe the phase transition that some metals undergoes from a normal to a superconductor phase. During a phase transition in superconductors of type II is common the appearance of magnetic flux lines in given regions of finite size called of vortices. The knowledge of the dynamics of these vortices is of great importance in the current cientific community and drives many research centers to study the superconductivity. In view of this we study how these vortices changes a phase transition in a bidimensional model known as XY model.In XY model one can show that the main responsible for the phase transition are the vortices (or still, vortice-antivortice pairs). Villain, noting this fact, realized that could to turn explicit the contribution of theses topological defects in the partition function of XY model making a duality transformation. This model inspired us to study the subject of this master thesis. We presented here a model based in physical considerations about systems of condensed matter. At the same time we used a formalism developed in reference [29] that permits to turn explicit the contribution of these vortices in the original action proposed in our theory. Finally we analysed some classical limits and we looked for the quantum fluctuations to obtain the complete expression of the correlation function of vortices, whose utility is in the study of interacting vortices is wide (vortex dynamics).

Les systèmes de climatisation et de ventilation sont souvent composés de configurations type jets impactant, sur leur partie terminale. Ainsi, les flux d’air soufflés viennent impacter des obstacles munis de fentes, de différentes formes, afin d’améliorer le mélange. Les conditions de confinement et de soufflage provoquent parfois un inconfort au niveau acoustique. Les nuisances acoustiques générées sont dues à un phénomène de boucles de rétroaction se traduisant par l’apparition des sons auto-entretenus. La production du son par un écoulement fluide en champ libre ou en interaction avec une structure a fait l’objet de nombreuses études. Dans le cas d’un champ acoustique et pour un écoulement à faible nombre de Mach la résolution du corollaire énergétique de Howe permet d’évaluer la puissance acoustique générée ou absorbée par les interactions entre le champ acoustique et l’écoulement. Le calcul de cette puissance nécessite la connaissance de trois paramètres : la vorticité, la vitesse et la vitesse acoustique par des méthodes analytiques ou en utilisant des données expérimentales. Expérimentalement, la mesure du champ cinématique, pour en déduire la vorticité, nécessite une technique de mesure tridimensionnelle. Pour cela une plate-forme expérimentale, utilisant de la vélocimétrie Laser, a été développée, et équipée pour générer les écoulements d’un jet plan. Les champs cinématiques de ces écoulements ont été mesurés en utilisant la technique PIV, avec un dispositif de PIV stéréoscopique. Les champs cinématiques de trente plans parallèles ont été mesurés afin d’étudier les champs de vitesses correspondants. Deux méthodes de reconstruction ont été appliquées à ces plans : la POD et la moyenne de phase. Le volume est obtenu par une interpolation des plans reconstruits donnant accès aux trois composantes de la vitesse. Pour valider ces méthodes de reconstruction en 3D à faible coût, elles étaient comparées à des mesures expérimentales réalisées par le même dispositif expérimental, dans les mêmes conditions, par la PIV tomographique donnant accès aux champs cinématiques tridimensionnels. / Air conditioning and ventilation systems are often composed of jets having a configuration of an impinging jet, on their end part. Thus, the blown airflows impact slotted obstacles of different shapes to improve mixing. The conditions of confinement and blowing sometimes cause acoustic incompatibility. The acoustic noises generated are due to a phenomenon of feedback loops resulting of the appearance of self-sustained sounds. The production of sound by a free flow or in interaction with a structure has been the subject of many studies. In the case of an acoustic field and for a flow of low Mach number, Howe's energetic correlation is used to evaluate the acoustic power generated or absorbed by the interactions between the acoustic field and the flow. The calculation of this power requires the knowledge of three parameters : vorticity, velocity and acoustic velocity by analytical methods or by using experimental data. Experimentally, the measurement of the kinematic field, to deduce the vorticity, requires a three-dimensional measurement technique. For this purpose, an experimental platform, using laser velocimetry, has been developed and equipped to generate flows of a plane jet. The kinematic fields of these flows were measured using the PIV technique, with a stereoscopic PIV device. The kinematic fields of thirty parallel planes were measured to study the corresponding velocity fields. Two reconstruction methods have been applied to these plans : the POD and the phase average. The volume is obtained by an interpolation of the reconstructed planes giving access to the three components of the velocity. To validate these low-cost 3D reconstruction methods, they were compared to experimental measurements made by the same experimental setup, under the same conditions, by using the tomographic PIV giving access to the three-dimensional kinematic fields.

L'éolienne Darrieus connaît un intérêt accru ces dernières années parce qu'elle représente une solution alternative potentielle de production d'électricité dans les milieux urbains. En particulier,une éolienne de forte solidité peut être choisie car certaines de ses propriétés peuvent être avantageuses pour son implantation proche de zones habitées. A l'inverse, certaines difficultés aérodynamiques émergent. Ce type d'éolienne fonctionne à de faibles vitesses réduites pour lesquelles le décrochage dynamique a un rôle très significatif. L'objectif de ce travail de thèse consiste à compléter la connaissance du phénomène de décrochage dynamique sur une éolienne à axe vertical afin d'améliorer les modèles numériques de prédiction existants. Cette étude s'appuie sur une analyse combinée de résultats numériques et expérimentaux. Les simulations numériques sont produites avec une méthode des panneaux bidimensionnelle instationnaire. Les effets de la viscosité sont introduits par des corrections utilisant notamment un modèle semi-empirique de décrochage dynamique. Le travail expérimental s'est concentrée sur la dynamique tourbillonnaire à proximité immédiate du rotor résultante du décrochage dynamique. Le montage se compose d'une éolienne à pale droite placée dans une soufflerie. Des mesures instationnaires de la répartition de pression pariétale le long de la corde et des mesures de champ de vitesse par vélocimétrie par images de particules ont été accomplies. Les résultats révèlent la manière dont les caractéristiques du décrochage dynamique sont conditionnées par la vitesse réduite. Le retard au décrochage, l'intensité de l'effet du tourbillon de décrochage dynamique et sa convection ont été quantifiés. Enfin, un examen critique de l'applicabilité du modèle de Leishman-Beddoes pour simuler efficacement les effets du décrochage dynamique a été réalisé. / The Darrieus wind turbine has entered a period of renewed interest over the last years because it may stand for an alternative solution to produce electricity in urban areas. In particular, high solidity wind turbine can be chosen to take benefit from some of its key properties for use near populated city areas. Conversely, some aerodynamic problems arise. This type of wind turbine operates at low tip speed ratio for which dynamic stall has a very significant role. The goal of this work is to provide valuable data to complement the knowledge of the dynamic stall phenomenon that occurs on a vertical axis wind turbine in order to improve existing numerical models. This study relies on a combined analysis of numerical and experimental results. The numerical simulations are based on a bidimensional unsteady vortex panel method. Effects of viscosity are introduced by adding corrections computed with a semi-empirical dynamic stall model. The experimental work focuses on the dynamics of the shed vortices existing in the vicinity of the rotor as a result of dynamic stall. The set-up consists of a straight-bladed wind turbine tested in a wind tunnel. Unsteady pressure distribution measurements along the chord and velocity fields measurements by particle image velocimetry were carried out. Results indicate how the characteristics of dynamic stall are conditioned by the tip speed ratio. Stall inception delay, magnitude of the dynamic stall vortex effects and its convection velocity were evaluated. Blade/Vortex interaction was analyzed through the observation of the vortical system downstream of the rotor. In addition, a critical review of the suitability of the Leishman-Beddoes model to effectively simulate the effects of dynamic stall was accomplished.

No description available.

Vortex breakdown is an important phenomenon observed in swirling flows involving the development of a stagnation point on the axis of the vortex followed by a region of recirculation when the swirl increases beyond a particular level. It has been studied extensively over past 50 years and various theories have been proposed to explain its various aspects. However, a single model explaining all the aspects together is yet to emerge. Numerical simulations of breakdown have been performed using a variety of grid-based as well as vortex methods. Vortex methods are a Lagrangian alternative to grid-based methods wherein the motion of the vorticity is determined by the local fluid velocity convection, with models for viscous effects when considered. The fluid velocity is obtained from the vorticity field. Only the rotational regions of the flow need to be considered leading to significant economy of computational effort for simulations of vorticity dominated flows, such as vortex breakdown. The inviscid vortex filament method has been used to simulate several aspects of the vortex breakdown phenomenon. The vortex filament method however, cannot easily simulate viscous effects. To simulate the viscous effects the viscous vortex particle method needs to be used. This work was intended to be a first step towards this end by initially evaluating the effectiveness of the inviscid version of the vortex particle method in simulating the breakdown phenomenon. The inviscid vortex particle method was found to satisfactorily simulate most qualitative aspects involved in the formation of vortex breakdown such as the retardation of axial velocity along centerline, radial swelling of the vortex core, formation of stagnation points, creation of azimuthal vorticity gradient from axial vorticity gradient and the turning of vortex lines along with the formation of a bubble-like structure with recirculating flow within. The effect of a wall placed adjacent to the vortex core was simulated by using image vortices. The wall was not found to influence the location of breakdown. However, the initiation of the spiral mode was found to occur earlier when a wall was present. For a quantitative assessment, a simulation of the experimental results of Faler and Leibovich (1978) was attempted. The simulation managed to predict the location of the breakdown and the extent of the bubble. The shape and height of the bubble obtained however were not in accord with the experimental observations. A single vortical cell was obtained in the interior of the bubble.

Previous work on rigid splitter plates in the wake of a bluff body has shown that the primary vortex shedding can be suppressed for sufficiently long splitter plates. In the present work, we study the problem of a flexible splitter plate in the wake of a circular cylinder. In this case, the splitter plate can deform due to the fluid forces acting on it, and hence the communication between the two sides of the wake is not totally disrupted like in the rigid splitter plate case. In particular, we study two kinds of flexible splitter plates. In the first case, the splitter plate is rigid but is flexibly mounted (hinged) to the cylinder, while in the second case, the entire splitter plate is flexible. We are interested in both the dynamics of the splitter plate, if they do vibrate at all, and in the wake dynamics downstream of the flexible splitter plates. The main parameters in the problem are the splitter plate length (L) to cylinder diameter (D) ratio, the relative mass of the plate, the Reynolds number, and the stiffness and internal damping associated with the flexible plate. In our study, we investigate this problem in the limit where the stiffness and internal damping of the plate are negligible and hence are not parameters of interest. For the hinged-rigid splitter plate case, experiments show that the splitter plate oscillations increase with Reynolds numbers at low values of Re, and are found to reach a saturation amplitude level at higher Re. This type of saturation amplitude level that appears to continue indefinitely with Re, appears to be related to the fact that there is no structural restoring force in this case, and has been seen previously for elastically-mounted cylinders with no restoring force. In the present case, the saturation tip amplitude level can be up to 0.45D,where D is the cylinder diameter. For this hinged-rigid splitter plate case, it is found that the splitter plate length to cylinder diameter (L/D) ratio is crucial in determining the character and magnitude of the oscillations. For small splitter plate lengths (L/D ≤ 3.0), the oscillations appear to be nearly periodic with tip amplitudes of about 0.45D nearly independent of L/D. The non-dimensional oscillation frequencies (fD/U ) on the other hand are found to continuously vary with L/D from fD/U ≈ 0.2at L/D =1 to fD/U ≈ 0.1 at L/D = 3. As the splitter plate length is further increased beyond L/D ≥ 4.0, the character of the splitter plate oscillations suddenly changes. The oscillations become aperiodic with much smaller amplitudes. In this long splitter plate regime, the spectra of the oscillations become broadband, and are reminiscent of the change in character of the wake oscillations seen in the earlier fixed-rigid splitter plate case for L/D ≥ 5.0. It appears that the vortex shedding is nearly inhibited for L/D ≥ 4.0 in the present case. This is also supported by measurements of the wake vorticity field from Particle-Image Velocimetry (PIV). The phase-averaged PIV vorticity fields show that the strength of the shed vortices decreases rapidly as the splitter plate length increases. For longer splitter plates, L/D ≥ 4.0, the plate oscillations are no longer periodic, and hence it appears that the wake vortices are not synchronized with the splitter plate motions. For the entirely-flexible splitter plate case, the splitter plate deformations appear to be in the form of a travelling wave. In this case, the tip amplitudes are significantly larger of the order of 1.1D, and the non-dimensional oscillation frequency (fD/U )is close to 0.2, approximately the same as the Strouhal number for the bare cylinder. In sharp contrast to the hinged-rigid splitter plate case, the non-dimensional amplitude and frequency appear to be nearly independent of the normalized splitter plate length (L/D)even up to L/D =7.0. PIV measurements of the wake vorticity field indicates that there appears to be a nearly continuous sheet of vorticity on both sides of the flexible splitter plate, and the vortex sheet sheds and forms distinct vortices only at the trailing edge of the plate. The strength of these shed vortices appears to be close to that of the bare cylinder at similar Re. The results appear to suggest that in this entirely-flexible case, the vortices form at the same frequency and are of the same strength as in the bare cylinder case, but their formation is just pushed further downstream. This would suggest that in this case, the base suction and drag could be lower than the bare cylinder. Further, the formation of vortices further downstream of the body could imply that this type of flexible splitter plate could be useful to suppress vortex-induced vibrations (VIV).