Parametric Resonance in Immersed Elastic Boundaries

In this paper, we investigate the stability of a fluid-structure interaction problem in which a flexible elastic membrane immersed in a fluid is excited via periodic variations in the elastic stiffness parameter. This model can be viewed as a prototype for active biological tissues such as the basilar membrane in the inner ear, or heart muscle fibers immersed in blood. Problems such as this, in which the system is subjected to internal forcing through a parameter, can give rise to "parametric resonance." We formulate the equations of motion in two dimensions using the immersed boundary formulation. Assuming small amplitude motions, we can apply Floquet theory to the linearized equations and derive an eigenvalue problem whose solution defines the marginal stability boundaries in parameter space. The eigenvalue equation is solved numerically to determine values of fiber stiffness and fluid viscosity for which the problem is linearly unstable. We present direct numerical simulations of the fluid-structure interaction problem (using the immersed boundary method) that verify the existence of the parametric resonances suggested by our analysis

Modeling and Simulation of a Fluttering Cantilever in Channel Flow

Characterizing the dynamics of a cantilever in channel flow is relevant to applications ranging from snoring to energy harvesting. Aeroelastic flutter induces large oscillating amplitudes and sharp changes with frequency that impact the operation of these systems. The fluid-structure mechanisms that drive flutter can vary as the system parameters change, with the stability boundary becoming especially sensitive to the channel height and Reynolds number, especially when either or both are small. In this paper, we develop a coupled fluid-structure model for viscous, two-dimensional channel flow of arbitrary shape. Its flutter boundary is then compared to results of two-dimensional direct numerical simulations to explore the model's validity. Provided the non-dimensional channel height remains small, the analysis shows that the model is not only able to replicate DNS results within the parametric limits that ensure the underlying assumptions are met, but also over a wider range of Reynolds numbers and fluid-structure mass ratios. Model predictions also converge toward an inviscid model for the same geometry as Reynolds number increases

An Immersed Boundary method with divergence-free velocity interpolation and force spreading

The Immersed Boundary (IB) method is a mathematical framework for constructing robust numerical methods to study fluid-structure interaction in problems involving an elastic structure immersed in a viscous fluid. The IB formulation uses an Eulerian representation of the fluid and a Lagrangian representation of the structure. The Lagrangian and Eulerian frames are coupled by integral transforms with delta function kernels. The discretized IB equations use approximations to these transforms with regularized delta function kernels to interpolate the fluid velocity to the structure, and to spread structural forces to the fluid. It is well-known that the conventional IB method can suffer from poor volume conservation since the interpolated Lagrangian velocity field is not generally divergence-free, and so this can cause spurious volume changes. In practice, the lack of volume conservation is especially pronounced for cases where there are large pressure differences across thin structural boundaries. The aim of this paper is to greatly reduce the volume error of the IB method by introducing velocity-interpolation and force-spreading schemes with the properties that the interpolated velocity field in which the structure moves is at least C1 and satisfies a continuous divergence-free condition, and that the force-spreading operator is the adjoint of the velocity-interpolation operator. We confirm through numerical experiments in two and three spatial dimensions that this new IB method is able to achieve substantial improvement in volume conservation compared to other existing IB methods, at the expense of a modest increase in the computational cost. Further, the new method provides smoother Lagrangian forces (tractions) than traditional IB methods. The method presented here is restricted to periodic computational domains. Its generalization to non-periodic domains is important future work.Comment: 49 pages, 13 figure

Modelling mitral valvular dynamics–current trend and future directions

Dysfunction of mitral valve causes morbidity and premature mortality and remains a leading medical problem worldwide. Computational modelling aims to understand the biomechanics of human mitral valve and could lead to the development of new treatment, prevention and diagnosis of mitral valve diseases. Compared with the aortic valve, the mitral valve has been much less studied owing to its highly complex structure and strong interaction with the blood flow and the ventricles. However, the interest in mitral valve modelling is growing, and the sophistication level is increasing with the advanced development of computational technology and imaging tools. This review summarises the state-of-the-art modelling of the mitral valve, including static and dynamics models, models with fluid-structure interaction, and models with the left ventricle interaction. Challenges and future directions are also discussed

Numerical simulation of super-square patterns in Faraday waves

We report the first simulations of the Faraday instability using the full three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations in domains much larger than the characteristic wavelength of the pattern. We use a massively parallel code based on a hybrid Front-Tracking/Level-set algorithm for Lagrangian tracking of arbitrarily deformable phase interfaces. Simulations performed in rectangular and cylindrical domains yield complex patterns. In particular, a superlattice-like pattern similar to those of [Douady & Fauve, Europhys. Lett. 6, 221-226 (1988); Douady, J. Fluid Mech. 221, 383-409 (1990)] is observed. The pattern consists of the superposition of two square superlattices. We conjecture that such patterns are widespread if the square container is large compared to the critical wavelength. In the cylinder, pentagonal cells near the outer wall allow a square-wave pattern to be accommodated in the center

Kink dynamics in the MSTB model

Producción CientíficaIn this paper kink scattering processes are investigated in the Montonen–Sarker–Trullinger–Bishop (MSTB) model. The MSTB model is in fact a one-parametric family of relativistic scalar field theories living in a one-time one-space Minkowski space-time which encompasses two coupled scalar fields. Among the static solutions of the model two kinds of topological kinks are distinguished in a precise range of the family parameter. In that regime there exists one unstable kink exhibiting only one non-null component of the scalar field. Another type of topological kink solutions, stable in this case, includes two different kinks for which the two components of the scalar field are non-null. Both one-component and two-component topological kinks are accompanied by their antikink partners. The decay of the unstable kink to one of the stable solutions plus radiation is numerically computed. The pair of stable two-component kinks living respectively on upper and lower semi-ellipses in the field space belongs to the same topological sector in the configuration space and provides an ideal playground to address several scattering events involving one kink and either its own antikink or the antikink of the other stable kink. By means of numerical analysis we shall find and describe interesting physical phenomena. Bion (kink–antikink oscillations) formation, kink reflection, kink–antikink annihilation, kink transmutation and resonances are examples of these types of events. The appearance of these phenomena emerging in the kink–antikink scattering depends critically on the initial collision velocity and the chosen value of the coupling constant parametrizing the family of MSTB models.MINDECO grant MTM2014-57129-C2-1-P and Junta de Castilla y León grants VA057U16 and BU229P18