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Coupling and synchronisation effects on local lock-in of two thermoacoustic oscillators in a stochastic environment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 August 2025

Minwoo Lee Open the ORCID record for Minwoo Lee [Opens in a new window]
Minwoo Lee*
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hanbat National University, 125 Dongseodaero, Daejeon, Yuseong 34158, South Korea
*
Corresponding author: Minwoo Lee, mwlee@hanbat.ac.kr
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Abstract

Flame–flame interactions in continuous combustion systems can induce a range of nonlinear dynamical behaviours, particularly in the thermoacoustic context. This study examines the mutual coupling and synchronisation dynamics of two thermoacoustic oscillators in a model gas-turbine combustor operating within a stochastic environment and subjected to external sinusoidal forcing. Experimental observations from two flames in an annular combustor reveal the emergence of dissimilar limit cycles, indicating localised lock-in of thermoacoustic oscillators. To interpret these dynamics, we introduce a coupled stochastic oscillator model with sinusoidal forcing terms, which highlights the critical role of individual synchronisation in enabling local lock-in. Furthermore, through stochastic system identification using this phenomenological low-order model, we mathematically demonstrate that a transition towards self-sustained oscillations can be driven solely by enhanced mutual coupling under external forcing. This combined experimental and modelling effort offers a novel framework for characterising complex coupled flame dynamics in practical combustion systems.

JFM classification

Nonlinear Dynamical Systems: Low-dimensional models Nonlinear Dynamical Systems: Bifurcation Reacting Flows: Combustion

Information

Type
JFM Rapids
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 1017 , 25 August 2025 , R2
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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