Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) calculations allow the mutual interaction between a flowing fluid and adjacent bodies to be calculated. This is necessary since all real structures are flexible, especially those that are large or subject to high fluid loads. The body forces generated by fluids flowing are highly sensitive to the shape and curvature of adjacent surfaces. By coupling a CFD solver and the FEA solver, the deformation of a body resulting from the fluid loads and the subsequent modification of the flow field due to the newly deformed geometry can be computed iteratively.
This technique allows aeroelastic instabilities such as flutter, to be detected and avoided early in the design cycle. Similarly, where structures are subjected to cyclic fatigue loading, such as rotor-stator interaction in compressor applications or vortex shedding around civil structures, these load effects can be accurately quantified to allow the fatigue life of the structure to be assessed.
As in isolated FEA and CFD one of the most profound benefits of FSI analysis is the ability to conduct comprehensive, automated, multi-point optimisation of designs. This process allows engineers to automatically optimise a design to a given set of performance parameters and can be used to tune frequencies, or maximise fatigue life or avoid harmful resonance.
Dynamiq Engineering provides a full range of FSI analyses ranging from vortex shedding estimates for lighting columns through to comprehensive design and optimisation of pumps, turbines and renewable energy equipment.
Typical applications include:
• Fluid Driven Vibration
• Fan & Compressor Design
• Civil Structural Design (Vortex Shedding)