SHD Sim Multiphysics
Fluid-structure interaction
Flexible foils, risers, membranes
preCICE — OpenFOAM + code_aster
In development.
What it is
Two-way coupling: the flow loads the structure, the structure deflects, and that deflection changes the flow that loaded it. Loads and displacements are exchanged each time step, with under-relaxation to stop the exchange diverging. Substantially harder and slower than the one-way chain, and only worth it when motion genuinely changes the flow.
What this analysis needs from you
- Both a CFD and an FE model, meshed compatibly at the interface
- A coupling scheme and relaxation settings, which take tuning
- Considerably more compute than either problem alone
Typical uses
- Flexible foils, sails and membranes
- Riser and cable vortex-induced vibration
- Heart valve and arterial flow
- Flutter and aeroelastic stability
Industries
Sectors where this analysis is routinely asked for.
- Offshore risers & cables
- Biomedical flows
- Membranes & fabrics
- Energy harvesting
What comes out
- Coupled motion and flow histories
- Flutter and lock-in onset
- Fatigue-relevant oscillation amplitudes
- Coupling convergence report
Backend
preCICE — OpenFOAM + code_aster
Chosen for this analysis type, with its capability verified against the module plan — not decided later.
Status
Phase 4 — one-way mapping comes well before two-way. Telling us you need this analysis moves it up the order — modules are sequenced by who is waiting for them.