A unifying model for fluid flow and elastic solid deformation: A novel approach for fluid–structure interaction

Abstract

Fluid–structure coupling is addressed through a unified equation for compressible Newtonian fluid flow and elastic solid deformation. This is done by introducing thermodynamics within Cauchy׳s equation through the isothermal compressibility coefficient that is experimentally measurable for both fluids and solids. The vectorial resolution of the governing equation, where every component of velocity vectors and displacement variation vectors is calculated simultaneously in the overall multi-phase system, is characteristic of a monolithic resolution involving no iterative coupling. For system equation closure, mass density and pressure are both re-actualized from velocity vector divergence, when the shear stress tensor within the solid phase is re-actualized from the displacement variation vectors. This novel approach is first validated on a two-phase system, involving a plane fluid–solid interface, through the two following test cases: (i) steady-state compression and (ii) longitudinal and transverse elastic wave propagations. Then the 3D study of compressive fluid injection towards an elastic solid is analyzed from initial time to steady-state evolution.