A multi-solver quasi-Newton method for the partitioned simulation of fluid-structure interaction

In partitioned fluid-structure interaction simulations, the flow equations and the structural equations are solved separately. Consequently, the stresses and displacements on both sides of the fluid-structure interface are not automatically in equilibrium. Coupling techniques like Aitken relaxation and the Interface Block Quasi-Newton method with approximate Jacobians from Least-Squares models (IBQN-LS) enforce this equilibrium, even with black-box solvers. However, all existing coupling techniques use only one flow solver and one structural solver. To benefit from the large number of multi-core processors in modern clusters, a new Multi-Solver Interface Block Quasi-Newton (MS-IBQN-LS) algorithm has been developed. This algorithm uses more than one flow solver and structural solver, each running in parallel on a number of cores. One-dimensional and three-dimensional numerical experiments demonstrate that the run time of a simulation decreases as the number of solvers increases, albeit at a slower pace. Hence, the presented multi-solver algorithm accelerates fluid-structure interaction calculations by increasing the number of solvers, especially when the run time does not decrease further if more cores are used per solver

Computational fluid dynamics in a marine environment

The introduction of the supercomputer and recent advances in both Reynolds averaged, and large eddy simulation fluid flow approximation techniques to the Navier-Stokes equations, have created a robust environment for the exploration of problems of interest to the Navy in general, and the Naval Underwater Systems Center in particular. The nature of problems that are of interest, and the type of resources needed for their solution are addressed. The goal is to achieve a good engineering solution to the fluid-structure interaction problem. It is appropriate to indicate that a paper by D. Champman played a major role in developing the interest in the approach discussed

Multiscale simulation of mixing processes using 3D-parallel, fluid-structure interaction techniques

International audienceThis work focuses on the development of a general finite element code, called Ximex®, devoted to the three-dimensional direct simulation of mixing processes of complex fluids. The code is based on a simplified fictitious domain method coupled with a "level-set" approach to represent the rigid moving boundaries, such as screws and rotors, as well as free surfaces. These techniques, combined with the use of parallel computing, allow computing the time-dependent flow of generalized Newtonian fluids in large and complex processes, involving moving free surfaces which are treated by a level-set/Hamilton-Jacobi method. Two flow case studies will be presented in this paper: the flow within a twin-screw extruder and the flow in a batch mixer

Validation of a roll decay test of an offshore installation vessel using openfoam

In this work, the offshore heavy lift DP2 jack-up vessel Innovation from the DEME group is studied using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) toolbox OpenFOAM. The two-phase Navier-Stokes fluid solver is coupled with a motion solver using a partitioned fluid-structure interaction algorithm. Firstly, two dimensional numerical simulations of a cross-section of the hull are performed using two different mesh motion techniques: a mesh morphing method and an overset mesh method. Subsequently, the addition of a bilge keel pair on the hull is studied numerically by performing a two dimensional roll decay simulation. Finally, a three dimensional simulation is performed for a roll decay test and validated by using experimental data measured in the MARIN seakeeping and manoeuvring basin. As a first result, the coupled CFD–motion solver proofs to be a promising toolbox for the study of fluid-structure interaction problems of realistic marine structures such as an offshore installation vessel

On in-situ visualization for strongly coupled partitioned fluid-structure interaction

We present an integrated in-situ visualization approach for partitioned multi-physics simulation of fluid-structure interaction. The simulation itself is treated as a black box and only the information at the fluid-structure interface is considered, and communicated between the fluid and solid solvers with a separate coupling tool. The visualization of the interface data is performed in conjunction with the fluid solver. Furthermore, we present new visualization techniques for the analysis of the interrelation of the two solvers , with emphasis on the involved error due to discretization in space and time and the reconstruction. Our visualization approach also enables the investigation of these errors with respect of their mutual influence on the two simulation codes and their space-time discretization. For efficient interactive visualization, we employ the concept of explorable spatiotemporal images, which also enables finite-time temporal navigation in an in-situ context. We demonstrate our overall approach and its utility by means of a fluid-structure simulation using OpenFOAM that is coupled by the preCICE software layer

A partition of unity approach to fluid mechanics and fluid-structure interaction

For problems involving large deformations of thin structures, simulating fluid-structure interaction (FSI) remains challenging largely due to the need to balance computational feasibility, efficiency, and solution accuracy. Overlapping domain techniques have been introduced as a way to combine the fluid-solid mesh conformity, seen in moving-mesh methods, without the need for mesh smoothing or re-meshing, which is a core characteristic of fixed mesh approaches. In this work, we introduce a novel overlapping domain method based on a partition of unity approach. Unified function spaces are defined as a weighted sum of fields given on two overlapping meshes. The method is shown to achieve optimal convergence rates and to be stable for steady-state Stokes, Navier-Stokes, and ALE Navier-Stokes problems. Finally, we present results for FSI in the case of a 2D mock aortic valve simulation. These initial results point to the potential applicability of the method to a wide range of FSI applications, enabling boundary layer refinement and large deformations without the need for re-meshing or user-defined stabilization.Comment: 34 pages, 15 figur