HAMILTONʹS PRINCIPLE FOR EXTERNAL VISCOUS FLUID–STRUCTURE INTERACTION

Hamiltonʹs principle is extended so as to be able to model external flow–structure interaction. This is accomplished by using Reynoldʹs Transport theorem. In this form Hamiltonʹs principle is hybrid in the sense that it has an analytical part as well as a part that depends on experimentally derived functions. Examples are presented. The discussion on implications and extensions is extensive. In this work, a general theory is developed for the case where the configuration is not prescribed at the end times of the variational principle. This leads to a single governing equation of motion. This limitation can be removed by prescribing the end times, as usually done. This is outlined in the present paper, and will be the subject of a future paper. iled discussion is also presented of the experimental work performed in parallel with and in support of the theoretical developments. As a true fluid-structural model, it is necessary to fully couple the dynamics. This has been the foundation of our formulation.