Deep Reinforcement Learning in Action: Real-Time Control of Vortex-Induced Vibrations

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Sababha, Hussam, Font, Bernat, Daqaq, Mohammed
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Sababha, Hussam
Font, Bernat
Daqaq, Mohammed
author_facet Sababha, Hussam
Font, Bernat
Daqaq, Mohammed
contents This study showcases an experimental deployment of deep reinforcement learning (DRL) for active flow control (AFC) of vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) in a circular cylinder at a high Reynolds number (Re = 3000) using rotary actuation. Departing from prior work that relied on low-Reynolds-number numerical simulations, this research demonstrates real-time control in a challenging experimental setting, successfully addressing practical constraints such as actuator delay. When the learning algorithm is provided with state feedback alone (displacement and velocity of the oscillating cylinder), the DRL agent learns a low-frequency rotary control strategy that achieves up to 80% vibration suppression which leverages the traditional lock-on phenomenon. While this level of suppression is significant, it remains below the performance achieved using high-frequency rotary actuation. The reduction in performance is attributed to actuation delays and can be mitigated by augmenting the learning algorithm with past control actions. This enables the agent to learn a high-frequency rotary control strategy that effectively modifies vortex shedding and achieves over 95% vibration attenuation. These results demonstrate the adaptability of DRL for AFC in real-world experiments and its ability to overcome instrumental limitations such as actuation lag.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_24556
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Deep Reinforcement Learning in Action: Real-Time Control of Vortex-Induced Vibrations
Sababha, Hussam
Font, Bernat
Daqaq, Mohammed
Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence
Fluid Dynamics
This study showcases an experimental deployment of deep reinforcement learning (DRL) for active flow control (AFC) of vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) in a circular cylinder at a high Reynolds number (Re = 3000) using rotary actuation. Departing from prior work that relied on low-Reynolds-number numerical simulations, this research demonstrates real-time control in a challenging experimental setting, successfully addressing practical constraints such as actuator delay. When the learning algorithm is provided with state feedback alone (displacement and velocity of the oscillating cylinder), the DRL agent learns a low-frequency rotary control strategy that achieves up to 80% vibration suppression which leverages the traditional lock-on phenomenon. While this level of suppression is significant, it remains below the performance achieved using high-frequency rotary actuation. The reduction in performance is attributed to actuation delays and can be mitigated by augmenting the learning algorithm with past control actions. This enables the agent to learn a high-frequency rotary control strategy that effectively modifies vortex shedding and achieves over 95% vibration attenuation. These results demonstrate the adaptability of DRL for AFC in real-world experiments and its ability to overcome instrumental limitations such as actuation lag.
title Deep Reinforcement Learning in Action: Real-Time Control of Vortex-Induced Vibrations
topic Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence
Fluid Dynamics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.24556