Fluid-Structure Interaction

Kyle Mucha

Andrew Young

Marketing Manager
COMSOL UK

Applications Engineer
COMSOL UK

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Agenda
Why Simulate?
Simulating with COMSOL Multiphysics

Introduction to Fluid-Structure Interaction

Poll Question

Fluid-Structure Interaction Interface

Poll Question
Moving Mesh

Live Demo
Q&A
How To
Try COMSOL Multiphysics
Contact Us

Fluid-Structure Interaction simulation of

wind acting on solar panel

Why Simulate?
Conception and understanding
Enables innovation

Design and optimization

Achieve the highest possible
performance

Testing and verification

Virtual testing is much faster than
testing physical prototypes

Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) in the cast

and mold of an aluminum extrusion
process.

Simulating with COMSOL Multiphysics

Electrical, mechanical, fluid, and
chemical simulations
Multiphysics Include and couple all
relevant physical effects
Single physics in one integrated
environment
Cross-disciplinary product development

A Complete Simulation Environment

COMSOL Desktop
Straightforward to
use, the Desktop
gives insight and full
control over the
modelling process

Model Builder
Provides instant
access to any of the
model settings
CAD/Geometry
Materials
Physics
Mesh
Solvers
Results

Graphics Window
Ultrafast graphic presentation,
stunning visualisation

Application Design Tools

Application Builder
Provides all the
tools needed to
build and run
simulation apps
Form Editor
Method Editor

Simulation Application
Any COMSOL model can be turned into an
app with its own interface using the tools
provided in the Application Builder

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Simulation Apps
They can be run in a COMSOL Client for
Windows and major web browsers

COMSOL Server
Its the engine for
running COMSOL
apps and the hub for
controlling their
deployment,
distribution, and use

Product Suite COMSOL 5.2

Introduction to Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI)

Examples of FSI analyses

Peristaltic pump: A roller pumps fluid

along a flexible tube.
Image credit: Veryst Engineering.

The air flow around a solar

panel and the resultant
structural stresses are
computed.

Stirred mixing vessel.

Cardiovascular modelling

Introduction to Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI)

Examples of FSI analyses

The pressure field in a lubricating

layer and deformation of a tilted
pad thrust bearing.

The sound pressure level radiated

by a loudspeaker.

The stresses in the soil and the fluid

velocity in the poroelastic domain

Solid particles in a fluid flow

Types of FSI Problems in COMSOL

Fluid flow coupled with structural
deformation in solids
Acoustic-structure interaction
Porous Media and Poroelasticity
Particulate flow

Types of FSI Problems in COMSOL

Fluid flow coupled with structural
deformation in solids
Acoustic-structure interaction
Porous Media and Poroelasticity
Particulate flow

Types of FSI Problems in COMSOL

Fluid flow coupled with structural
deformation in solids
Acoustic-structure interaction
Porous Media and Poroelasticity
Particulate flow

Types of FSI Problems in COMSOL

Fluid flow coupled with structural
deformation in solids
Acoustic-structure interaction
Porous Media and Poroelasticity
Particulate flow

Poll Question 1

Poll Question 1
What types of FSI application are you interested in?
Fluid flow coupled with structural deformation in solids

Acoustic-structure interaction
Porous media and poroelasticity
Particulate flow

One-Way Coupling: Small Solid Displacements

Automated solution steps:
Solve for fluid flow
Calculate total fluid stresses
Apply fluid stresses on solid boundaries

Solve for the displacements in solids

Stresses in neonatal aortic arch as a

result of pressure load calculated by
fluid flow in fixed geometry

One-Way Coupling: Rigid Structures

Automated solution steps:
Calculate displacements and rotations of the rigid
structure
Prescribe mesh motion according to rigid structure
Apply the velocity of the solid boundaries on the
fluid walls
Solve for fluid flow

Fluid velocity in a stirred mixing

vessel as a result of prescribed rigid
deformations.

Two-Way Boundary Coupling

Set up FSI equations for:
Fluid flow
Structural mechanics
Moving mesh

Left: Velocity contours and Von Mises stress in vibrating beam; Right: Mesh displacement of vibrating beam.

COMSOL automatically detects FSI boundary and sets conditions at FSI interface
Apply conditions at FSI interface:
Apply fluid boundary forces on solid boundary
Impose fluid boundary velocities based on velocity of solid boundary
Set boundary mesh displacement equal to displacement of solid boundary

Features Available for FSI Analysis

All solid and fluid capabilities in COMSOL Multiphysics are available for FSI analysis
Fluid Capabilities
Laminar flow
Turbulent flow
Stokes flow
Non-Newtonian fluids
Multiphase flow
Thin fluid films

Solid Capabilities
Large deformations
Contact
Shells
Plastic materials
Hyperelastic materials
Geotechnical materials
Peristaltic pump including 2way coupled FSI with contact

FSI problems can also be coupled with any other physics field

Poll Question 2

Poll Question 2
Which FSI coupling are you most interested in?
One way: Fluid flow Structural deformation
One way: Structural deformation Fluid flow
Two way: Structural deformation Fluid flow

Moving Mesh: The Challenge

COMSOL automatically sets up additional Partial
Differential Equations (PDEs) for the mesh
movement
Mesh follows structural deformation at FSI
boundaries
Two main convergence issues:
Excessive mesh distortion
Fluid region collapsing due to contact

Mesh displacement of
vibrating beam

Handling the Moving Mesh

Arbitrary Example:
Solid object (purple) moves in fluid (pink) by displacement x(t)
As solid deforms, the original mesh is distorted (in time) resulting in
excessive mesh distortion and convergence difficulties

Original mesh at t = 0 s.

Solid object displacement

described by x(t)

Mesh quickly becomes

distorted for t > 0 s.

Helping the Mesh with Geometry Features

Additional geometric features can be added to help solve the Moving Mesh
PDEs:
Helps mesh deformation maintain quality
Easiest when displacement is known
e.g. on wall boundaries where normal mesh displacement is zero but mesh nodes
can still slide

Helping the Mesh with Geometry Features

Additional geometric features can be added to help solve the Moving Mesh
PDEs Even when displacement is not known!
Prescribe mesh translation based on how a point moves through FSI
coupling
Use Point Integration Component Coupling to allow helper line to slide
along boundary

Automatic Remeshing
COMSOL provides several criteria for initiation of remeshing
Default criterion is mesh distortion
Once threshold is me a new mesh is built on deformed geometry

Original mesh at t = 0 s.

Mesh is deformed after

some time tN, where
element quality is reduced

Mesh is rebuilt on
geometry at t = tN

Live Demo: COMSOL Multiphysics

How this Micropump Works

When flow is against the flaps, they bend
backward, narrowing the channel and
increasing flow resistance
When flow is in the direction of flap tilt, the
flaps bend forward, widening the channel
and decreasing flow resistance
By placing titled flaps on either side of the
inlet, the bending happens on opposite
sides out of phase, thereby pumping net
fluid to the right

Colour and arrow plot show fluid velocity

Live Demo: COMSOL Multiphysics

Why Use COMSOL Multiphysics for FSI

Easy, automated setup of fluid, structure, and moving mesh parts of
FSI problems including interface conditions
Extensive capabilities in structural mechanics, fluid flow, and moving
mesh
Ease of interfacing with any other physics field
Flexibility in solver selection including fully coupled direct solver for
strongly coupled FSI problems
Powerful, easy-to-use design tool

Multiphysics Simulation Story:

SEA FLOOR ENERGY HARVESTING

Velocity contours for a specific energy harvester configuration

NAGI ELABBASI, BRENTAN ALEXANDER, AND STUART BROWN

VERYST ENGINEERING, NEEDHAM, MA, USA
Extract from COMSOL News 2011
2016 COMSOL. All rights reserved.

uk.comsol.com/blogs

Q&A Session

Micropump with two way coupled fluid

flow and structural deformation

Product Suite COMSOL 5.2

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