(354e) On Boundary-Layer Flows Driven by Translating, Flexible Sheets

The interaction between fluid flow and flexible structures is important in a wide range of systems ranging from beating flagella to waving a flag. These coupled fluid-body problems are typically difficult to study theoretically and computationally. In this work, we study a process where a sheet of material is drawn through a fluid medium at a high velocity. Such scenario occurs in many industrial settings such as extrusion processes. The translating sheet deforms in the direction of drawing and induces a flow in the surrounding fluid. Unlike the classical problem in the literature where the mechanics of the sheet are neglected, and kinematics are prescribed, we herein couple the dynamics of both the sheet and the surrounding fluid. The characteristics of the induced flow are studied by means of boundary-layer theory. The coupled system we consider allows for analytical solutions that are valid under limiting conditions, which we also identify.