Dynamic response of deformable structures subjected to shock load and cavitation reload

The dynamic response of deformable structures subjected to shock load and cavitation reload has been simulated using a multiphase model, which consists of an interface capturing method and a one-fluid cavitation model. Fluid–structure interaction (FSI) is captured via a modified ghost fluid method (Liu et al. in J Comput Phys 190: 651–681, 2003), where the structure is assumed to be a hydro-elasto-plastic material if subjected to a strong shock load. Bulk cavitation near the structural surface is captured using an isentropic model (Liu et al. in J Comput Phys 201:80–108, 2004). The integrated multiphase model is validated by comparing numerical predictions with 1D analytical solutions, and with numerical solutions calculated using the cavitation acoustic finite element (CAFé) method (Sprague and Geers in Shocks vib 7:105–122, 2001). To assess the ability of the multiphase model for multi- dimensions, underwater explosions (UNDEX) near structures are computed. The importance of cavitation reloading and FSI is investigated. Comparisons of the predicted pressure time histories with different explosion center are shown, and the effect on the structure is discussed.     

A Multiscale/stabilized Formulation of the Incompressible Navier–Stokes Equations for Moving Boundary Flows and Fluid–structure Interaction

This paper presents a multiscale/stabilized finite element formulation for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations written in an Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) frame to model flow problems that involve moving and deforming meshes. The new formulation is derived based on the variational multiscale method proposed by Hughes (Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng 127:387–401, 1995) and employed in Masud and Khurram in (Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng 193:1997–2018, 2006); Masud and Khurram in (Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng 195:1750–1777, 2006) to study advection dominated transport phenomena. A significant feature of the formulation is that the structure of the stabilization terms and the definition of the stabilization tensor appear naturally via the solution of the sub-grid scale problem. A mesh moving technique is integrated in this formulation to accommodate the motion and deformation of the computational grid, and to map the moving boundaries in a rational way. Some benchmark problems are shown, and simulations of an elastic beam undergoing large amplitude periodic oscillations in a viscous fluid domain are presented.     

Solvers for large-displacement fluid–structure interaction problems: segregated versus monolithic approaches

We compare the relative performance of monolithic and segregated (partitioned) solvers for large- displacement fluid–structure interaction (FSI) problems within the framework of oomph-lib, the object-oriented multi-physics finite-element library, available as open-source software at . Monolithic solvers are widely acknowledged to be more robust than their segregated counterparts, but are believed to be too expensive for use in large-scale problems. We demonstrate that monolithic solvers are competitive even for problems in which the fluid–solid coupling is weak and, hence, the segregated solvers converge within a moderate number of iterations. The efficient monolithic solution of large-scale FSI problems requires the development of preconditioners for the iterative solution of the linear systems that arise during the solution of the monolithically coupled fluid and solid equations by Newton’s method. We demonstrate that recent improvements to oomph-lib’s FSI preconditioner result in mesh-independent convergence rates under uniform and non-uniform (adaptive) mesh refinement, and explore its performance in a number of two- and three-dimensional test problems involving the interaction of finite-Reynolds-number flows with shell and beam structures, as well as finite-thickness solids.     

A hybrid variational‐collocation immersed method for fluid‐structure interaction using unstructured T‐splines

We present a hybrid variational‐collocation, immersed, and fully‐implicit formulation for fluid‐structure interaction (FSI) using unstructured T‐splines. In our immersed methodology, we define an Eulerian mesh on the whole computational domain and a Lagrangian mesh on the solid domain, which moves arbitrarily on top of the Eulerian mesh. Mathematically, the problem reduces to solving three equations, namely, the linear momentum balance, mass conservation, and a condition of kinematic compatibility between the Lagrangian displacement and the Eulerian velocity. We use a weighted residual approach for the linear momentum and mass conservation equations, but we discretize directly the strong form of the kinematic relation, deriving a hybrid variational‐collocation method. We use T‐splines for both the spatial discretization and the information transfer between the Eulerian mesh and the Lagrangian mesh. T‐splines offer us two main advantages against non‐uniform rational B‐splines: they can be locally refined and they are unstructured. The generalized‐α method is used for the time discretization. We validate our formulation with a common FSI benchmark problem achieving excellent agreement with the theoretical solution. An example involving a partially immersed solid is also solved. The numerical examples show how the use of T‐junctions and extraordinary nodes results in an accurate, efficient, and flexible method. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Wall shear stress calculations in space–time finite element computation of arterial fluid–structure interactions

The stabilized space–time fluid–structure interaction (SSTFSI) technique was applied to arterial FSI problems soon after its development by the Team for Advanced Flow Simulation and Modeling. The SSTFSI technique is based on the Deforming-Spatial-Domain/Stabilized Space–Time (DSD/SST) formulation and is supplemented with a number of special techniques developed for arterial FSI. The special techniques developed in the recent past include a recipe for pre-FSI computations that improve the convergence of the FSI computations, using an estimated zero-pressure arterial geometry, Sequentially Coupled Arterial FSI technique, using layers of refined fluid mechanics mesh near the arterial walls, and a special mapping technique for specifying the velocity profile at inflow boundaries with non-circular shape. In this paper we introduce some additional special techniques, related to the projection of fluid–structure interface stresses, calculation of the wall shear stress (WSS), and calculation of the oscillatory shear index. In the test computations reported here, we focus on WSS calculations in FSI modeling of a patient-specific middle cerebral artery segment with aneurysm. Two different structural mechanics meshes and three different fluid mechanics meshes are tested to investigate the influence of mesh refinement on the WSS calculations.     

Computation of free-surface flows and fluid–object interactions with the CIP method based on adaptive meshless soroban grids

The CIP Method [J comput phys 61:261–268 1985; J comput phys 70:355–372, 1987; Comput phys commun 66:219–232 1991; J comput phys 169:556–593, 2001] and adaptive Soroban grid [J comput phys 194:57–77, 2004] are combined for computation of three- dimensional fluid–object and fluid–structure interactions, while maintaining high-order accuracy. For the robust computation of free-surface and multi-fluid flows, we adopt the CCUP method [Phys Soc Japan J 60:2105–2108 1991]. In most of the earlier computations, the CCUP method was used with a staggered-grid approach. Here, because of the meshless nature of the Soroban grid, we use the CCUP method with a collocated-grid approach. We propose an algorithm that is stable, robust and accurate even with such collocated grids. By adopting the CIP interpolation, the accuracy is largely enhanced compared to linear interpolation. Although this grid system is unstructured, it still has a very simple data structure.     

Multiscale space–time fluid–structure interaction techniques

We present the multiscale space–time techniques we have developed for fluid–structure interaction (FSI) computations. Some of these techniques are multiscale in the way the time integration is performed (i.e. temporally multiscale), some are multiscale in the way the spatial discretization is done (i.e. spatially multiscale), and some are in the context of the sequentially-coupled FSI (SCFSI) techniques developed by the Team for Advanced Flow Simulation and Modeling (T \bigstar AFSM){({\rm T} \bigstar {\rm AFSM})}. In the multiscale SCFSI technique, the FSI computational effort is reduced at the stage we do not need it and the accuracy of the fluid mechanics (or structural mechanics) computation is increased at the stage we need accurate, detailed flow (or structure) computation. As ways of increasing the computational accuracy when or where needed, and beyond just increasing the mesh refinement or decreasing the time-step size, we propose switching to more accurate versions of the Deforming-Spatial-Domain/Stabilized Space–Time (DSD/SST) formulation, using more polynomial power for the basis functions of the spatial discretization or time integration, and using an advanced turbulence model. Specifically, for more polynomial power in time integration, we propose to use NURBS, and as an advanced turbulence model to be used with the DSD/SST formulation, we introduce a space–time version of the residual-based variational multiscale method. We present a number of test computations showing the performance of the multiscale space–time techniques we are proposing. We also present a stability and accuracy analysis for the higher-accuracy versions of the DSD/SST formulation.     

Immersed smoothed finite element method for two dimensional fluid–structure interaction problems

A novel method called immersed smoothed FEM using three‐node triangular element is proposed for two‐dimensional fluid–structure interaction (FSI) problems with largely deformable nonlinear solids placed within incompressible viscous fluid. The fluid flows are solved using the semi‐implicit characteristic‐based split method. Smoothed FEMs are employed to calculate the transient responses of solids based on explicit time integration. The fictitious fluid with two assumptions is introduced to achieve the continuous form of the FSI conditions. The discrete formulations to calculate the FSI forces are obtained in terms of the characteristic‐based split scheme, and the algorithm based on a set of fictitious fluid mesh is proposed for evaluating the FSI force exerted on the solid. The accuracy, stability, and convergence properties of immersed smoothed FEM are verified by numerical examples. Investigations on the mesh size ratio indicate that the stability is fairly independent of the wide range of the mesh size ratio. No additional volume correction is required to satisfy the incompressible constraints. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A computational approach for predicting the hydroelasticity of flexible structures based on the pressure Poisson equation

This work is concerned with the modeling of the interaction of fluid flow with flexible solid structures. The flow under consideration is governed by the Navier–Stokes equations for incompressible viscous fluids and modeled with low‐order velocity–pressure finite elements. The motion of the fluid domain is accounted for by the arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian formulation. The structure is represented by means of an appropriate standard finite element formulation. The spring smooth analogy is used to mesh control. The time integrating algorithm is based on the predictor–multi‐corrector algorithm. An important aspect of the present work is the introduction of a new monolithic approach based on the fluid pressure Poisson equation (PPE) to solve the hydroelasticity problem of an incompressible viscous fluid with an elastic body that is vibrating due to flow excitation. The PPE is derived to be consistent with the coupled system equation for the fluid–structure interaction (FSI). Based on this approach, an efficient monolithic method is adopted to simulate hydroelasticity between the flexible structure and the flow. The fluid pressure is implicitly derived to satisfy the incompressibility constraint, and the other unknown variables are explicitly derived. The coefficient matrix of the PPE for the FSI becomes symmetric and positive definite. To demonstrate the performance of the proposed approach, two working examples, a beam immersed in incompressible fluid and a guide vane of a Francis turbine passage, were used. The results show the validity of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Partitioned vibration analysis of internal fluid‐structure interaction problems

A partitioned, continuum‐based, internal fluid–structure interaction (FSI) formulation is developed for modeling combined sloshing, acoustic waves, and the presence of an initial pressurized state. The present formulation and its computer implementation use the method of localized Lagrange multipliers to treat both matching and non‐matching interfaces. It is shown that, with the context of continuum Lagrangian kinematics, the fluid sloshing and acoustic stiffness terms originate from an initial pressure term akin to that responsible for geometric stiffness effects in solid mechanics. The present formulation is applicable to both linearized vibration analysis and nonlinear FSI transient analysis provided that a convected kinematics is adopted for updating the mesh geometry in a finite element discretization. Numerical examples illustrate the capability of the present procedure for solving coupled vibration and nonlinear sloshing problems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Semi-implicit formulation of the immersed finite element method

The immersed finite element method (IFEM) is a novel numerical approach to solve fluid–structure interaction types of problems that utilizes non-conforming meshing concept. The fluid and the solid domains are represented independently. The original algorithm of the IFEM follows the interpolation process as illustrated in the original immersed boundary method where the fluid velocity and the interaction force are explicitly coupled. However, the original approach presents many numerical difficulties when the fluid and solid physical properties have large mismatches, such as when the density difference is large and when the solid is a very stiff material. Both situations will lead to divergent or unstable solutions if not handled properly. In this paper, we develop a semi-implicit formulation of the IFEM algorithm so that several terms of the interfacial forces are implicitly evaluated without going through the force distribution process. Based on the 2-D and 3-D examples that we study in this paper, we show that the semi-implicit approach is robust and is capable of handling these highly discontinuous physical properties quite well without any numerical difficulties.     

Interface projection techniques for fluid–structure interaction modeling with moving-mesh methods

The stabilized space–time fluid–structure interaction (SSTFSI) technique developed by the Team for Advanced Flow Simulation and Modeling (T★AFSM) was applied to a number of 3D examples, including arterial fluid mechanics and parachute aerodynamics. Here we focus on the interface projection techniques that were developed as supplementary methods targeting the computational challenges associated with the geometric complexities of the fluid–structure interface. Although these supplementary techniques were developed in conjunction with the SSTFSI method and in the context of air–fabric interactions, they can also be used in conjunction with other moving-mesh methods, such as the Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) method, and in the context of other classes of FSI applications. The supplementary techniques currently consist of using split nodal values for pressure at the edges of the fabric and incompatible meshes at the air–fabric interfaces, the FSI Geometric Smoothing Technique (FSI-GST), and the Homogenized Modeling of Geometric Porosity (HMGP). Using split nodal values for pressure at the edges and incompatible meshes at the interfaces stabilizes the structural response at the edges of the membrane used in modeling the fabric. With the FSI-GST, the fluid mechanics mesh is sheltered from the consequences of the geometric complexity of the structure. With the HMGP, we bypass the intractable complexities of the geometric porosity by approximating it with an “equivalent”, locally-varying fabric porosity. As test cases demonstrating how the interface projection techniques work, we compute the air–fabric interactions of windsocks, sails and ringsail parachutes.     

3D fluid–structure-contact interaction based on a combined XFEM FSI and dual mortar contact approach

Finite deformation contact of flexible solids embedded in fluid flows occurs in a wide range of engineering scenarios. We propose a novel three-dimensional finite element approach in order to tackle this problem class. The proposed method consists of a dual mortar contact formulation, which is algorithmically integrated into an eXtended finite element method (XFEM) fluid–structure interaction approach. The combined XFEM fluid–structure-contact interaction method (FSCI) allows to compute contact of arbitrarily moving and deforming structures embedded in an arbitrary flow field. In this paper, the fluid is described by instationary incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. An exact fluid–structure interface representation permits to capture flow patterns around contacting structures very accurately as well as to simulate dry contact between structures. No restrictions arise for the structural and the contact formulation. We derive a linearized monolithic system of equations, which contains the fluid formulation, the structural formulation, the contact formulation as well as the coupling conditions at the fluid–structure interface. The linearized system may be solved either by partitioned or by monolithic fluid–structure coupling algorithms. Two numerical examples are presented to illustrate the capability of the proposed fluid–structure-contact interaction approach.     

Multiscale sequentially-coupled arterial FSI technique

Multiscale versions of the Sequentially-Coupled Arterial Fluid–Structure Interaction (SCAFSI) technique are presented. The SCAFSI technique was introduced as an approximate FSI approach in arterial fluid mechanics. It is based on the assumption that the arterial deformation during a cardiac cycle is driven mostly by the blood pressure. First we compute a “reference” arterial deformation as a function of time, driven only by the blood pressure profile of the cardiac cycle. Then we compute a sequence of updates involving mesh motion, fluid dynamics calculations, and recomputing the arterial deformation. The SCAFSI technique was developed and tested in conjunction with the stabilized space–time FSI (SSTFSI) technique. Beyond providing a computationally more economical alternative to the fully coupled arterial FSI approach, the SCAFSI technique brings additional flexibility, such as being able to carry out the computations in a spatially or temporally multiscale fashion. In the test computations reported here for the spatially multiscale versions of the SCAFSI technique, we focus on a patient-specific middle cerebral artery segment with aneurysm, where the arterial geometry is based on computed tomography images. The arterial structure is modeled with the continuum element made of hyperelastic (Fung) material.     

Immersed smoothed finite element method for fluid–structure interaction simulation of aortic valves

This paper presents a novel numerical method for simulating the fluid?Cstructure interaction (FSI) problems when blood flows over aortic valves. The method uses the immersed boundary/element method and the smoothed finite element method and hence it is termed as IS-FEM. The IS-FEM is a partitioned approach and does not need a body-fitted mesh for FSI simulations. It consists of three main modules: the fluid solver, the solid solver and the FSI force solver. In this work, the blood is modeled as incompressible viscous flow and solved using the characteristic-based-split scheme with FEM for spacial discretization. The leaflets of the aortic valve are modeled as Mooney-Rivlin hyperelastic materials and solved using smoothed finite element method (or S-FEM). The FSI force is calculated on the Lagrangian fictitious fluid mesh that is identical to the moving solid mesh. The octree search and neighbor-to-neighbor schemes are used to detect efficiently the FSI pairs of fluid and solid cells. As an example, a 3D idealized model of aortic valve is modeled, and the opening process of the valve is simulated using the proposed IS-FEM. Numerical results indicate that the IS-FEM can serve as an efficient tool in the study of aortic valve dynamics to reveal the details of stresses in the aortic valves, the flow velocities in the blood, and the shear forces on the interfaces. This tool can also be applied to animal models studying disease processes and may ultimately translate to a new adaptive methods working with magnetic resonance images, leading to improvements on diagnostic and prognostic paradigms, as well as surgical planning, in the care of patients.     

Fracture analysis in 2D magneto–electro–elastic media by the boundary element method

An integral formulation for 2D cracked infinite anisotropic magneto–electro–elastic media is presented. Based on the method proposed by Garcia-Sanchez et al. (Comput Struct 83: 804–820, 2005), the hypersingular kernels are analytically transformed into weakly singular and regular integrals with known analytical solution. Special quadratic discontinuous crack tip elements are employed to model the singular characteristics of the stresses, electric displacements and magnetic inductions. The extended stress intensity factors at the crack tips are calculated using the extended discontinuous displacements at crack tip elements based on one point extended displacement formulation. Some results for curved cracks in magneto–electro–elastic media are also presented.     

An improved moving‐least‐squares reconstruction for immersed boundary method

The current work presents an improved immersed boundary method based on the ideas proposed by Vanella and Balaras (M. Vanella, E. Balaras, A moving‐least‐squares reconstruction for embedded‐boundary formulations, J. Comput. Phys. 228 (2009) 6617–6628). In the method, an improved moving‐least‐squares approximation is employed to build the transfer functions between the Lagrangian points and discrete Eulerian grid points. The main advantage of the improved method is that there is no need to obtain the inverse matrix, which effectively eliminates numerical instabilities caused by matrix inversion and reduces the computational cost significantly. Several different flow problems (Taylor‐Green decaying vortices, flows past a stationary circular cylinder and a sphere, and the sedimentation of a free‐falling sphere in viscous fluid) are simulated to validate the accuracy and efficiency of the method proposed in the present paper. The simulation results show good agreement with previous numerical and experimental results, indicating that the improved immersed boundary method is efficient and reliable in dealing with the fluid–solid interaction problems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.