Journal of Advanced Mechanical Design, Vol. 4, No.

1, 2010

Systems, and
Manufacturing
Active Feedback Control of a Web Flutter
Using Flow Control Devices*
Yusuke HAYASHI**, Masahiro WATANABE** and Kensuke HARA**
** Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aoyama Gakuin University
5-10-1, Fuchinobe, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa, 229-8558, Japan
E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract
This paper develops a non-contact active feedback control of web flutter in a
narrow passage by using movable plates set at inlet and outlet of the passage. The
strategy of this active feedback control is based on the flow-control which cancels
the exciting fluid force acting on the web, i.e., cancels the self-excited feedback
mechanism. In this paper, suppression of the web flutter by the active feedback
control is demonstrated experimentally. In the experiments, a web (film), as a
controlled object, is subjected to air flow in a narrow passage. The web flutter
occurs to the web in the translational motion over the critical flow velocity. And the
web flutter is actively controlled and suppressed by the movable plate motion
which changes the air flow in the passage. The critical flow velocity under
controlled condition is examined with changing the controller gain and phase-shift
between the web motion and the movable plate motion. As a result, it is indicated
that the active feedback control increases the critical flow velocity, and suppress the
web flutter effectively. Moreover, the control performance is examined
experimentally, and stabilization mechanism by the active feedback control is
discussed.

Key words: Flow Induced Vibration, Web Flutter, Vibration Control Device, Active
Feedback Control, Flow Control, Bimorph Type PZT

1. Introduction
Leakage-flow-induced web flutter is generated by a self-excited feedback mechanism
resulting from fluid-structure interaction and is often encountered in many engineering
applications such as film handling machines. The resulting flutter can reduce the productive
efficiency and generate noise, in some cases, cause fatigue failure to the thin film. However,
it is difficult to add the damping to the web. Moreover, it is also difficult to apply the
external force to the web directly since the web is transported at high speed. Therefore, we
have to suppress the flutter without contact for the handling of the thin film.
Up to now, some studies on the leakage-flow-induced vibrations have been reported (1)-(9).
Mateescu and Paidoussis (1)-(3) studied the unsteady fluid forces in a narrow annular passage
and investigated the stability of the center body supported elastically. Inada and Hayama (4)-(6)
studied the leakage-flow-induced vibrations of translational one-degree-of-freedom system,
and translational-rotational coupled two-degree-of-freedom system, and clarified instability
mechanism of these systems theoretically. From these studies, it was found that self excited
vibrations occur due to the negative fluid-dynamic damping when a narrow passage is
*Received 24 July, 2009 (No. 09-0367) divergent downstream or it includes a constriction at the inlet or a diffuser at the outlet.
[DOI: 10.1299/jamdsm.4.269]
Some studies on the active control of flow-induced vibrations such as vortex-induced
Copyright © 2010 by JSME

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Systems, and
Manufacturing
vibrations, flow oscillations in jet-wedge and cavity systems, and compressor surge, have
been reported (10)-(18). Active control of leakage flow induced vibrations have been reported.
Kaneko and Hirota (19) studies the active control of leakage-flow-induced vibrations, which
occur to a rigid plate elastically supported in a narrow tapered passage, by using added fluid
force feedback. Nishihara and Kaneko (20) studied the active control of
leakage-flow-induced vibrations, which occur to a cantilever thin plate. In their study, a
piezoelectric bimorph actuator attached on the upstream edge of the plate was used to
generate the added fluid force as a control force.
In this study, we propose a new flow-control device using movable plates which change
the air flow in the passage, and develop a non-contact active feedback control method to
suppress the leakage-flow-induced web flutter. Then, we show that the web flutter is
effectively suppressed by the proposed flow-control devices and active feedback control,
and examine the control performance experimentally.

2. Active Feedback Control Method

Figure 1 shows the air flow control method using movable plates. Movable plates which
are driven by bimorph type PZT actuators are set at inlet or outlet of the passage. Movable
plate motion changes the width of the passage, and changes the air flow in the passage. For
the outlet control, projection of the plate increases the pressure in the narrow passage. For
the inlet control, projection of the plate decreases the pressure in the narrow passage.
Figure 2 shows the schematic drawing of the non-contact active feedback control by the
flow-control device using movable plates. A flexible web, as a controlled object, is
supported at both ends in a narrow passage. The flow-induced vibration occurs to the web
caused by the dynamic fluid force generated in the narrow passage. The air flow is
controlled by the movable plate, which are set at inlet or outlet of the passage and are driven
by bimorph type PZT actuators. The control signal is produced by the controller from the
amplified sensor signal with phase-shift φc. The controller gain G and the phase-shift φc
between the control signal and the sensor signal are set in the controller. The sensor signal is
given by a laser displacement sensor which is set at outlet of the passage.
The total phase shift φ, from the vibration displacement y to the projection of the movable
plate, consists of the phase shift φc, the phase lag φ1 from the vibration displacement y to the
sensor signal ε, and the phase φ2 from the control signal to projection of the plate, i.e.,
φ=φc+φ1+φ2. The total phase-shift φ is varied by changing the phase-shift φc set in the
controller. The phase-lag φ1 is obtained previously, and the phase-lag φ2 is obtained from the
phase difference between the control signal u and displacement of the movable plate,
measured by a laser displacement sensor. The control performance is examined by changing
the controller gain G and total phase-shift φ.

3. Experimental Setup and Procedure

Figure 3 shows the photographs of the test section and web supporting mechanism, and
figure 4 shows the photographs of flow-control devices using the movable plates. The web
is supported at both ends, and the tensile force is applied to the web using weights. The web
is subjected to high speed air flow which is generated by using a blower. The vibration
displacement y is measured by a laser displacement sensor.
Figure 5 shows the pressure measurement method. Pressure fluctuations in the narrow
passage are measured in order to examine the characteristics of the web flutter and control
performance of the active control. The pressure fluctuations P1~P6 at six points in the
passage are measured by using pressure sensors.
Figure 6 (a) and (b) show the amplitude-frequency responses of the flow control devices

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Systems, and
Manufacturing
using bimorph type PZT actuators. It can be seen that natural frequency of the control
device is about 72Hz. Over the driving frequency range of our experiments, which is much
lower than the natural frequency of the control device, the gain of the flow control devices
is almost constant, and that phase-lag is sufficiently small.
Fluid flow Fluid flow

Increasing
Resistance

Decreasing
Pressure

Increasing
Pressure

Increasing
Resistance

Fig.1 Flow control method using movable plates

PZT Amp. Fluid flow

Fluid flow
－ D/A +
Controller ( PC )

Amplifier ①

Phase shifter
A/D
Band pass filter u u
② ②
Sensor Amp. y
＋
ε
③

① Flexible Web ② Bimorph PZT

③ Laser Displacement Sensor
Fig.2 Active control system and signal
Pulley

Flow passage
Linear
Weight Bushing

Sheet Sheet

Laser displacement sensor

Fig.3 Test section and web supporting mechanism.

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Plate
Sheet

Fig.4 Bimorph type PZT actuators for flow control.

Fluid flow
Pressure sensor
P1

P2

Low Pass Filter

A/D Converter
P3

Computer
PZT P4

P5

P
Tube 6

Fig.5 Pressure measurement method

0
Phase φ a [deg]

–90

–180
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
10

0
Gain[dB]

–10

–20

–30
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Frequency [Hz]
Fig.6 Characteristics of flow control devices
(a) Phase-lag as a function of frequency, (b)Gain as a function of frequency

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4. Vibration Characteristics of Web Flutter
Before the tests of the active control, the overall characteristics of the web flutter under
uncontrolled condition are examined.
Figure 7 shows the typical time histories of the web vibration amplitude and pressure
fluctuations in the narrow passage. Pressure fluctuation P1 is measured at the inlet of the
passage, and P6 is measured at the outlet of the passage. These data were recorded with
increasing the flow velocity before web flutter occurs to the web. It can be seen that the web
flutter occurs to the web over a critical flow velocity, and the amplitude of the vibration
increases exponentially with time, and then become constant in the limit-cycle state. It can
be seen that the pressure fluctuations increase as increasing the amplitude of the vibration. It
can also be seen that the pressure fluctuations are larger at the inlet and outlet of the
passage. This means that antinodes of the vibration mode of the web are located at inlet and
outlet of the passage, and node of the vibration mode of the web is located in middle of the
passage. From this result, it seems that the mode of this flutter is second mode.
Figure 8 (a) and (b) show the vibration displacement of the web and that of dominant
frequency as a function of the flow velocity. These data are obtained with changing the
tension T from 6.3N/m to 14.6N/m. It is seen that the web flutter occurs over a critical flow
velocity. And the critical flow velocity increases as tension increases.
In the case of the tension T=6.3, 10.4, 14.6N/m, the critical flow velocity Qcr = 4.2, 6.0, 7.6
m/s, respectively. The amplitude of vibration depends on the tension T. It can be seen that
the vibration displacement decreases with increasing the tension. And frequency increases
with increasing the tension. The frequency of the vibration was kept at almost constant in
each tensions. In addition, it is seen that different higher frequency mode appears in the case
of tension T=14.6N/m. The frequency of the lower frequency mode is about 19Hz, and that
of the higher frequency mode is about 34Hz.
–0.5
Disp.y [mm]

–0.25
0
0.25
0.5
4
P6 [Pa] P5 [Pa] P4 [Pa] P3 [Pa] P2 [Pa] P1 [Pa]

0
–4
4
0
–4
4
0
–4
4
0
–4
4
0
–4
4
0
–4
0 1 2 3 4
Time [sec]
Fig.7 Time histories of growing vibration displacement and pressure fluctuations

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Systems, and
Manufacturing

2
Tension T [N/mm]
1.5 6.3

RMS Disp.y [mm]

10.4
14.6
1

0.5

40
Tension T [N/mm]
30 6.3
10.4
Frequency [Hz]

14.6
20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Flow velocity V [m/s]

Fig.8 (a)Amplitude of vibration with increasing flow velocity

(b)Dominant frequency with increasing flow velocity

5. Results of Active Control

5.1 The Typical Result of Active Control

Figure 9 (a) shows the time histories of vibration displacement and pressure fluctuations
in the narrow passage which are suppressed by the active control. And figure 9 (b) shows
the spectrum of vibration with active control and that without active control. These data are
obtained in the case of controller gain G=0.63, phase shift φ=-60 degrees, and control
position is outlet of the passage. It can be seen that not only the web flutter but also the
pressure fluctuations in the passage are effectively suppressed by the active control. Its
vibration amplitude decreases rapidly and exponentially by flow control at the outlet of the
passage. It can also be seen that the pressure fluctuation is larger at the inlet and outlet of
the passage. As the pressure fluctuation is larger at the outlet of the passage than that of
inlet, it is indicated that excitation source is at the outlet of the passage.
From spectrum, it can be seen that not only at the dominant frequency but also over wide
frequency range, web flutter is suppressed effectively, and the suppressed vibration
amplitude is quite small. In addition, the spill-over phenomenon is not observed.

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Systems, and
Manufacturing
0.5

Disp.y [mm]
Controlled operation
0

G = 0.63
–0.5
4

P6 [Pa] P5 [Pa] P4 [Pa] P3 [Pa] P2 [Pa] P1 [Pa]

0
–4
4
0
–4
4
0
–4
4
0
–4
4
0
–4
4
0
–4
0 1 2 3 4 5
Time [sec]
0
with control ( G = 0.63 )
without control
–20
Spectrum y [dB] ,mm

–40

–60

–80

–100
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Frequency [Hz]
Fig.9 (a) Time histories of vibration and pressure with control
(b) Spectrum of vibration with control

5.2 The Effects of Controller Gain and Phase Shift

Figure 10 shows the RMS ratio with changing phase shift φ. These data were obtained
with changing phase shift from -180 to 180 degrees, gain from 0.11 to 0.63, and control
position is outlet of the passage. In fig.10, RMS of the flutter displacement with control
yrms-c is normalized by that without control yrms. It can be seen that, for the outlet flow
control, the web flutter is suppressed effectively when the phase shift is set around -60
degrees. On the other hand, when the phase shift is set around 120 degrees, the web flutter
is excited. From these result, it can be seen that the performance of the active control is very
sensitive to the phase shift. It can also be seen that the stabilization effect and the excitation
effect by the active control increase with increasing the controller gain.

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Manufacturing
Figure 11 shows the typical time histories of the vibration displacement which are
suppressed by the active control. These data were recorded with changing the controller
gain from 0.11 to 0.63, in the case of phase shift φ=-60 degrees. Active control starts at 2
seconds after starting the measurement. From fig.11, it can be found that the web flutter is
suppressed effectively and rapidly by starting the active control. And the stabilization effect
by the active control increases with increasing the controller gain. And higher gain makes
more rapid suppression of the vibration.
2

RMS Ratio yrms–c/yrms

1.5
Destabilization
1
Gain G
0.11
0.5 0.21
Stabilization
0.32
0.63
0
–180 –120 –60 0 60 120 180
Phase φ [deg]
Fig.10 The effects of phase angle φ and controller gain G on suppression of the flutter.

Fig.11 The effects of controller gain G on suppression of the flutter.

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Systems, and
Manufacturing
5.3 The Effects of Control Position

Figure 12 shows the effects of control position on the suppression of the web flutter. It
can be seen that, for the outlet flow control, the web flutter is suppressed effectively when
the phase shift is set around -60 degrees. And the web flutter is excited when the phase shift
is set at around 120 degrees. For the inlet flow control, the web flutter is suppressed
effectively when the phase shift is set around -90 degrees. And the web flutter is excited
when the phase shift is set at around 0 degrees. Outlet control has the suppression effect to
the web flutter over wider phase shift range compared with inlet control. However, the
excitation effect of outlet control is also larger than that of inlet control.
Figure 13 shows the effect of the active control on the critical flow velocity. The
amplitudes of the vibration suppressed by the active control were recorded with increasing
the flow velocity. It can be seen that the active control increases the critical flow velocity.
And it can be found that the active control is able to not only suppress the flutter after it
occurs but also prevent the flutter from occurring. And the suppression effect of outlet
control is greater than that of inlet control. For the outlet control, the critical flow velocity
increases by about 40%. Since the pressure fluctuation is larger at the outlet of the passage,
it can be seen that the web flutter is excited around outlet of the passage. Hence, controlling
the fluid flow at the outlet is effective to suppress the flutter. This is the reason why the
outlet control has great suppression effect to the flutter.

2
Destabilization
RMS Ratio yrms–c/yrms

1.5

0.5 Stabilization
Inlet control
Outlet control
0
–180 –120 –60 0 60 120 180
Phase φ [deg]

Fig.12 The effects of control poison on suppression of the flutter.

0.5
without control
0.4 Inlet control
RMS Disp.y [mm]

Outlet control
0.3

0.2

0.1

0
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Flow velocity V [m/s]
Fig.13 Variation of RMS vibration displacement with control.

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Manufacturing
5.4 Suppression of Higher Frequency Mode

Figure 14 shows the effects of the active control to higher different frequency mode of
34Hz. It can be found that the higher frequency mode flutter is effectively suppressed by the
active control. The active control has the high control effect not only to the lower frequency
mode flutter but also to that of higher frequency mode. In the case of suppression of higher
frequency mode, higher gain makes higher suppression effect to the flutter. In addition,
when the gain G=0.36, spill over phenomenon is observed at low frequency. When the gain
G=0.71, it can be seen that the spill over phenomenon is suppressed.

0
0.4
Controlled operation –20

Spectrum [dB] ,mm

0.2 –40
Disp.y [mm]

0 –60

–80
–0.2

–100 with control ( G = 0.24 )

–0.4 (a) G = 0.24 without control
–120
0 1 2 3 4 5 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Time [sec] Frequency [Hz]
0
0.4
Controlled operation –20

Spectrum [dB] ,mm

0.2
–40
Disp.y [mm]

0 –60

–0.2 –80

–100 with control ( G = 0.36 )

–0.4 (b) G = 0.36 without control

0 1 2 3 4 5 –120
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Time [sec] Frequency [Hz]
0
0.4
Controlled operation –20
Spectrum [dB] ,mm

0.2
Disp.y [mm]

–40

0 –60

–80
–0.2

–100
with control ( G = 0.71 )
–0.4 (c) G = 0.71 without control
–120
0 1 2 3 4 5 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Time [sec] Frequency [Hz]

Fig.14 The effects of the active control on higher frequency mode

6. Discussion on Stabilization Mechanism

As indicated in chapter, it was found that, for the outlet control and inlet control, when the
phase shift is set around -90 degrees, the web flutter is suppressed effectively.
Figure 15 shows the mechanism of the web flutter when the phase shift is set at -90 degrees.
For the outlet control, projection of the plate increases the fluid resistance at the outlet, and
the pressure fluctuations in the narrow passage increases. For the inlet control, projection of
the plate increases the fluid resistance at the inlet, and the pressure fluctuations in the
narrow passage decreases. When the phase shift is set at -90 degrees, these pressure
fluctuations caused by the projection of the plate act as the damping to the web, and web
flutter is suppressed effectively.

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Systems, and
Manufacturing

Fluid flow Fluid flow

P y・

y・ P

Fig.15 Stabilization mechanism of the web flutter.

7. Conclusions
The flow-control device using movable plate actuators has been developed to suppress the
leakage-flow-induced web flutter. The non-contact active feedback control has been
proposed. The suppression effect by the active feedback control was examined
experimentally. The following major things were obtained.
(1) The web flutter is suppressed effectively, and the critical flow velocity is increased by
the proposed non-contact active feedback control using the flow-control devices.
(2) The web flutter is suppressed effectively, when the phase-shift of the control signal is set
around -90 degrees for inlet flow control and -60 degrees for outlet flow control.
(3) The suppression effect by the outlet flow control is greater than that by the inlet flow
control.

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