Fluid-structure interaction of mixed convection in a cavity-channel assembly of flexible wall

Abstract

This paper investigates the unsteady mixed convection in a cavity-channel assembly resulting from the interaction between fluid flow and a deformable (elastic) walls. A discrete heat source is fixed at the bottom of the cavity while the other walls of the assembly are thermally insulated. The upper side of the cavity is exposed to a channel flow. The governing equations of the interaction between the fluid and elastic wall are solved using Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) approach with Finite Element method. Effects of elasticity modulus, buoyancy to viscous ratio and the inertia to viscous ratio are studied by considering different ranges of Cauchy, Richardson and Reynolds numbers. It is found that the presence of the elastic wall(s) improve the heat transfer rate by 17% compared with rigid walls of the cavity. The role of the elastic wall is pronounced at Ri = 10.