fluttering

Fluttering is a term describing rapid, light, irregular or intermittent movement. It is commonly used to describe the quick, fluttering motion of wings, leaves, fabric, or small objects in the air, as well as sensations perceived in the body. The exact pattern varies by context, but the common feature is brief, oscillatory motion with low amplitude.

In biology, fluttering describes brief, rapid movements of animals or plant parts. Insects such as moths and small flies may exhibit high-frequency wingbeats with short glides, creating a fluttering motion. Birds may use rapid wing movements to hover or maneuver in swirling winds. Leaves and petals can flutter in a breeze.

In engineering, aeroelastic flutter is a dynamic instability where aerodynamic forces couple with a structure's flexible motions, leading to increasing oscillations. It can affect aircraft wings, turbine blades, or other slender components at high speeds. Prevention relies on structural stiffening, aerodynamic shaping, and damping, as well as careful load and dynamic analysis.

In medicine, flutter refers to a rapid, regular heart rhythm such as atrial flutter, which can cause palpitations and shortness of breath. It is distinct from atrial fibrillation and often requires medical assessment, with treatments including rate control, anticoagulation, and sometimes ablation. The term is also used for sensations of fluttering in the chest, eyelids, or abdomen, or for curtains and fabrics fluttering in the wind.