The inside view of an oscillating pipe

Abstract

A pipe conveying fluid is a model problem in fluid-structure interactions and nonlinear dynamics. Several experimental and theoretical studies exist on this problem and very rich nonlinear dynamics have been observed including super- and subcritical instabilities as well as various routes to chaos. Despite all the existing studies, we had not yet seen the fluid inside an oscillating pipe as the pipe undergoes different types of flow-induced instabilities. But the wait is over.