A time splitting fictitious domain algorithm for fluid–structure interaction problems (A fictitious domain algorithm for FSI)

Abstract

A Finite Element Method in mixed Eulerian and Lagrangian formulation is developed to allow direct numerical simulations of dynamical interaction between an incompressible fluid and a hyper-elastic incompressible solid. A Fictitious Domain Method is applied so that the fluid is extended inside the deformable solid volume and the velocity field in the entire computational domain is resolved in an Eulerian framework. Solid motion, which is tracked in a Lagrangian framework, is imposed through the body force acting on the fluid within the solid boundaries. Solid stress smoothing on the Lagrangian mesh is performed with the Zienkiewicz–Zhu patch recovery method. High-order Gaussian integration quadratures over cut elements are used in order to avoid sub-meshing within elements in the Eulerian mesh that are intersected by the Lagrangian grid. The algorithm is implemented and verified in two spatial dimensions by comparing with the well validated simulations of solid deformation in a lid driven cavity and periodic elastic wall deformation driven by a time-dependent flow. It shows good agreement with the numerical results reported in the literature. In 3-D the method is validated against previously reported numerical simulations of 3-D rhythmically contracting alveolated ducts.