Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis in Natural Convection Heat Transfer Inside a T-Shaped Cavity with a Flexible Baffle

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the free convection flow through a flexible baffle in a T-shaped enclosure. This study is established in two-dimensional space. The 2D numerical analysis is performed with Comsol Multiphysics on the basis of the finite element method. The effect of all parameters influencing the convection heat transfer and the deformation baffle are rigorously studied. Results obtained show that the convection heat transfer and the warp baffle deformation are improved by increasing the Rayleigh and Prandtl numbers. By cons, the convection heat transfer is reduced by increasing the elasticity modulus of the flexible baffle and increasing the length of baffle. However, the stress over the baffle is improved. The variation of baffle position is not an important factor that affects the convection heat transfer inside the cavity; by contrast, the stress over the baffle is more important with a higher baffle position.