A two-dimensional fluid-structure coupling algorithm for the interaction of high-speed flows with open shells

Abstract

The design of future light aerospace structures will require numerical tools to accurately describe the strongly coupled dynamics of the interactions between a light structure and a flow surrounding it. Specific examples include inflatable structures and parachutes used as deceleration devices during planet entry. In this work, an algorithm for simulating the solid-fluid interactions of a highly-deformable open shell structure and a compressible fluid flow is presented. The main objective is to extend the algorithm previously presented by the authors to the case of open shell structures immersed in a fluid. For simplicity, we restrict our attention to the two-dimensional case. The computational strategy is based on combining an Eulerian finite volume formulation for the fluid and a Lagrangian formulation for the structural response. The coupling between the fluid and the solid response is achieved via a novel approach based on extrapolation and velocity reconstruction aided by level sets. The accuracy of the proposed approach is verified against exact solutions of supersonic flow past a rigid flat plate. The numerical results reproduce all the details of the flow field, including the-very important-forces on the structure. The versatility of the proposed coupling algorithm is demonstrated in simulations of supersonic flow past a highly-deformable infinite plate.