Description:
Fluid-structure interaction (FSI) problems in maritime engineering involve inter-disciplinary studies relating to fluid, flexible structure and their physical coupling mechanisms. FSI with violent free-surfaces is still a challenging problem to analyse. In this work, we develop a mixed finite element and particle method (MPS) capable of simulating fluid-structure interaction problems in maritime engineering involving large flow motions and deformations.
Fluid-structure interaction (FSI) problems in maritime engineering involve inter-disciplinary studies relating to fluid, flexible structure and their physical coupling mechanisms. The interaction of a flexible structure with a flowing liquid gives rise to a rich variety of physical phenomena with applications in many fields of engineering, for example, sloshing in LNG tankers, offshore structures, seakeeping, etc.
For most practical FSI problems, it is difficult to find analytical solutions and reliance on numerical computations becomes the only way forward. Despite recent advances in numerical methods and computer technology, the numerical simulation of FSI problems in maritime engineering still remain a challenge, and in particular for problems characterized by large displacements of the fluid-structure interface or by a rapidly moving fluid free-surface (which are still highly intractable). For free-surface flow simulation, the challenge is in this case connected to the inherent difficulty in the simulation of a highly unsteady flow and to the rapid variation of the shape of the ‘fluid Body’.
For these kinds of problems, particles methods can offer a good alternative to the mesh-based methods; as no grid or mesh is required for the simulation, and as such they do not suffer from grid tangling in large deformation problems. This project aims to develop a mixed finite element and particle method (MPS) capable of simulating FSI problems in maritime engineering involving large flow motions and deformations.
This proposed research has a strong numerical base relating to maritime engineering applications, involving large flow motions (including breaking waves, fluid fragmentation, and separation), and it is a joint research between the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, Southampton University and Lloyd’s Register Shipping company in London, UK.