Comparative Analysis of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) for Fluid-Structure Interaction: Computational Performance of Lagrangian SPH and Structural Modeling Strategies

Abstract

Abstract In this contribution, we discuss the pros and cons of using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method in providing support to multiphysics simulations. The Lagrangian SPH method is proposed to address a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) problem in which the response of a flexible baffle with elastic behavior is solved by using three modeling strategies: I) a dynamic structural solver of 3D bonded rigid bodies with rotations, based on a Lumped-Parameter Method (LPM); II) a non-linear Finite Element Method structural solver (FEM), based on the Euler-Bernoulli beam model; and III) a unified SPH-based for continuum mechanics based on a Total Lagrangian formulation. The present work uses the open-source code DualSPHysics as the fluid solver and different options now available in this code to represent flexible structures. The FSI simulated process starts with a gravity-driven fluid mass that hits a flexible plate experiences wide motion excursions (comparable to its length) in a relatively short time. The fluid phase is consistently solved with a weakly compressible SPH-based solver, whereas the three solution strategies are used to model the flexibility of the solid element. By discussing the the computational performance, and the solvers particle resolution sensitivity, the outcome of this research enables understanding the requirements of each software implementation to optimize the performance scalability.