Simulation Of Fluid-Structure Interaction Using The Fem

Abstract

An algorithm to simulate 3-D fluid-structure interaction problems using the finite
element technique is presented in this work. A two-step Taylor-Galerkin scheme and linear
tetrahedra elements are employed to analyze the fluid flow, which may be compressible or
incompressible. An Arbitrary Lagrangean-Eulerian (ALE) formulation is adopted, which must
be compatible with the motion of the fluid-structure interface. A fractional method with
velocity correction is used for incompressible fluids. The structure is analyzed using
triangular elements with three nodes and six degrees of freedom in each node (three
displacement components and three rotation components). Geometrically non-linear effects
are included. The Newmark method is employed to integrate in time the dynamic equilibrium
equations using an Updated Lagrangean description. The algebraic system of equations is
solved using the conjugated gradient method and an incremental-iterative scheme is used to
solve the non-linear system resulting from finite displacements and rotations. The code is
optimized to take advantages of vector processors.