Analytical investigation of the energetic exchange involved in the aeroelastic behavior of a thickless plate in a 2D flow

A nonlinear aeroelastic model for a rigid flat plate in 2D incompressible potential flow is presented as a special case of a more general formulation, based on time-dependent conformal mapping and discrete vortex shedding. The model captures large-amplitude motions and free-wake dynamics, enabling investigation of flutter onset and large oscillations. Numerical simulations highlight strong nonlinear behaviors and complex vortex patterns. An excess energy formulation is introduced to analyze fluid-structure energy exchange, offering insights into instability mechanisms beyond classical linear theories.