Showing papers by "K. Murali published in 2004"

A comparative study of dynamic mesh updating methods used in the simulation of fluid-structure interaction problems with a non-linear free surface

Abstract: This paper compares the performance of three mesh movement algorithms: Laplacian smoothing, linear spring analogy and torsion spring analogy for a fluid mesh update in staggered fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations with a non-linear free surface. The mesh updating schemes are applied to simulate three representative cases of the above-stated dual moving boundary problem. The performances of the algorithms are gauged on the basis of their ability to delay the initiation of a complete remesh of the fluid domain while maintaining solution accuracy. To satisfy this dual objective, the mesh-updating algorithm should not only prevent mesh failure but should also maintain well-shaped triangles. The reasons for the failure of different schemes are explained and suitable modifications are suggested/implemented to enhance thier performance. It is shown that these modifications prove to be very successful in improving the effectiveness of the algorithms.

Finite element analysis of non-linear fluid structure interaction in hydrodynamics using mixed lagrangian-eulerian method

Abstract: Fluid structure Interaction (FSI) is important in analysis of: (1) Cardio-vascular dynamics; (2) Underwater/ Offshore structures; (3) Aircraft wings and turbine blade designs; (4) Design of tall structures/buildings; (5) high speed hard disk drives etc. At present, such capabilities are being incorporated, if any, only to a limited extent in commercial CFD codes leaving the engineers to develop their own codes. In the current study, a hydro-elastic problem of an underwater structure has been considered. Traditionally, the hydrodynamics and the structural dynamics are solved using finite difference/boundary element methods and finite element method (FEM) respectively. Moreover, the governing equation for fluid and structure are usually written in Eulerian and Lagrangian reference frames - posing further difficulties for coupling the two systems. In this research, both the fluid and structural systems are solved by the finite element method using a mixed Eulerian-Lagrangian scheme, where, fluid mesh moves and adapts to new free surface and structural positions. A full non-linear free surface implementation is considered. A mesh adaptation using Laplacian smoothing is performed to reduce the need for re-meshing the domain frequently. The scheme is validated with solutions available in the literature and extended to the present FSI problem with non-linear free surface boundary condition.