Fluid-structure Interaction Methodology Research Articles

Exploring arteriolar atherosclerosis: laminar blood flow across stenosis with fluid-structure interaction and gravitational effects

Abstract In response to the unanswered relevant questions surrounding atherosclerosis, it becomes imperative to investigate arterioles using sophisticated mathematical modelling techniques to shed light on critical stress and strain patterns influenced by gravity. The primary objective of this study is to scrutinize flow characteristics and probe stress and strain distributions experienced by the intima layer of arterioles, encompassing coronary, renal, cerebral, mesenteric, and pulmonary arteries, under gravitational forces. This investigation employs a fluid-structure interaction methodology utilizing arbitrary Eulerian–Lagrangian formulation. The study delves into blood flow characteristics within coronary, renal, cerebral, mesenteric, and pulmonary arterioles using the fluid-structure interaction technique, employing an arbitrary Eulerian–Lagrangian formulation. It thoroughly examines various biomechanical parameters such as the Cauchy–Green stress tensor, Principal strain, Piola–Kirchoff stress tensor, deformation tensor, and volume strain along the intima layer under the gravitational influence, elucidating vulnerable regions prone to endothelial dysfunction. Higher values of δV are found at the left shoulder and in the intima’s post stenosis area due to the pressure gradient along the flow channel, whereas other intima regions show a null volume strain. A thorough understanding of stress distribution is essential to create focused therapies to lessen vascular health problems. The stress in the post-stenosis region seems to affect the endothelial layer to a significant extent.

Biotransport in human phonation: Porous vocal fold tissue and fluid–structure interaction

Human phonation involves the flow-induced vibrations of the vocal folds (VFs) that result from the interaction with airflow through the larynx. Most voice dysfunctions correspond with the fluid–structure interaction (FSI) features as well as the local changes in perfusion within the VF tissue. This study aims to develop a multiphysics computational framework to simulate the interstitial fluid flow dynamics in vibrating VFs using a biphasic description of the tissue and FSI methodology. The integration of FSI and a permeable VF model presents a novel approach to capture phonation physics' complexity and investigate VF tissue's porous nature. The glottal airflow is modeled by the unsteady, incompressible Navier–Stokes equations, and the Brinkman equation is employed to simulate the flow through the saturated porous medium of the VFs. The computational model provides a prediction of tissue deformation metrics and pulsatile glottal flow, in addition to the interstitial fluid velocity and flow circulation within the porous structure. Furthermore, the model is used to characterize the effects of variation in subglottal lung pressure and VF permeability coefficient by conducting parametric studies. Subsequent investigations to quantify the relationships between these input variables, flow perfusion, pore pressure, and vibration amplitude are presented. A linear relationship is found between the vibration amplitude, pore pressure, and filtration flow with subglottal pressure, whereas a nonlinear dependence between the filtration velocity and VF permeability coefficient is detected. The outcomes highlight the importance of poroelasticity in phonation models.

Overset meshing in combination with novel blended weak-strong fluid-structure interactions for simulations of a translating valve in series with a second valve

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices can bridge the gap to transplant whilst awaiting a viable donor heart. The Realheart Total Artificial Heart is a novel positive-displacement MCS that generates pulsatile flow via bileaflet mechanical valves. This study developed a combined computational fluid dynamics and fluid-structure interaction (FSI) methodology for simulating positive displacement bileaflet valves. Overset meshing discretised the fluid domain, and a blended weak-strong coupling FSI algorithm was combined with variable time-stepping. Four operating conditions of relevant stroke lengths and rates were assessed. The results demonstrated this modelling strategy is stable and efficient for modelling positive-displacement artificial hearts.

Gender in human phonation: Fluid–structure interaction and vocal fold morphology

This paper aims to examine the effects of variations in the vocal fold (VF) morphological features associated with gender on glottal aerodynamics and tissue deformation. Nine three-dimensional geometries of the VFs in the larynx are created with various VF lengths, thicknesses, and depths to perform a parametric analysis according to gender-related geometrical parameters. The computational model is incorporated in a fluid–structure interaction methodology by adopting the transient Navier–Stokes equations to model airflow through the larynx and considering a linear elasticity model for VF dynamics. The model predictions, such as aerodynamic data through the larynx, glottal airflow, and VF deformations, are analyzed. The comparison of the simulation results for the nine cases supports the hypothesis that gender differences in laryngeal dimensions remarkably influence the glottal airflow and deformation of the VFs. Decreasing VF thickness and increasing its length corresponds to a noticeable increase in maximum tissue displacement, while variations in depth affect the flow rate significantly in the small and large larynges. Conversely, we observed that the pressure drop at the glottis is nearly independent of the VF length. A comparison of the glottal area with published imaging data illustrated a direct correlation between the glottal configuration and the morphology of the VFs.

Numerical study on flow-induced vibration of LBE-cooled wire-wrapped rod bundle

Flow-induced vibration (FIV) characteristics of LBE-cooled wire-wrapped rod bundle are crucial to the wire-to-cladding fretting. In the present study, numerical simulation on FIV of wire-wrapped rod bundle in LBE flow was performed using a fluid–structure interaction methodology based on the coupling between fluid and solid domains. The effects of geometry parameters on the FIV of wire-wrapped single rod and rod bundle were obtained. The results show that the circumferential force of coolant on the single fuel rod was uneven, which made the fuel rod undergo elliptical and off-axis periodic vibration. The variations of structure parameters of wire spacers had weak effects on the vibration of the single rod, while significant effects on the vibration trajectory of rod bundle. The vibration characteristics of border rods were more sensitive to the variations of transverse flow, while the center fuel rods were more sensitive to the difference in support constraint.

Flow in a large wind field with multiple actuators in the presence of constant vorticity

Study of wind farms is an area of active research. Researchers have proposed simplified wind farm models that define the wake structure in a wind farm and how they affect the performance of the wind turbines. Interestingly, these models do not take into account an important aspect of fluid flow, i.e., the fluid–structure interaction (FSI) between the turbines and the wind, which has an important role to play. This motivated researchers to implement numerical analysis tools to model the geometry of the wind turbines in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based models of a wind farm in order to better understand the wake structure and study the performance of the wind farms. However, modeling the complex geometry of the blades and the turbines makes these models computationally expensive. In this paper, we propose an FSI methodology which can simplify the blade resolving CFD models and eliminate the requirement for modeling these complex geometries during preliminary engineering phase. As an example, we present simulations of up to three back-to-back wind turbines and compare the results with those obtained from wind engineering software, FLORIS. The proposed methodology demonstrates how the approach can be used to develop a relatively less computationally expensive wind farm model. The approach formulated in this paper follows an intermediate way between the analytical wind farm models and CFD models by introducing modifications to one of the most basic wind farm models (Jensen's model) and using it to develop a simplified CFD model using the decomposed immersed interface method strategy.

Seismic analyses for power transformers

Reliability and security of power systems, especially in areas prone to earthquakes, depends on the seismic withstand of its components and interaction of these components with other elements. All relevant power products and components should be designed and tested to guarantee high seismic performance. Option which is strongly recommended for seismic qualification is shake table test. This way is very expensive and in some cases like power transformers impossible due to its weight and size. Because of this the numerical analyses can be very helpful to determine the dynamic characteristic of the system. This way is more and more used during evaluation of seismic performance of power products, especially in the design phase. In the paper a different numerical approaches for seismic analyses of the power transformers have been presented. In the first part of the article focus was put on typical simulation methods defined by IEEE and IEC standards. This approach is dedicated only for transformer’s components. Due to fact that standards do not provide clear information about fluid influence on power equipment during seismic events, some investigations related with oil filled transformers were done and summarized. Three different numerical methods were investigated. First one is built based on the Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) methodology. In this approach combination of different software (CFD, structural, and coupling code) is used to cover phonemes related with fluid dynamics and structural analyses. FSI methodology gives a wide possibility but, it’s very complex however, is very complex which can be a disadvantage for very complex objects. Next one uses acoustic elements, where the fluid is modeled as acoustic medium. This is method which allows to take into account fluid during seismic simulations in simplified way. The last one uses Lagrange and Euler element formulations (CEL) in which sloshing effect of the oil in power products can be considered. All this approaches can be very helpful to determine the dynamic characteristic of the transformers and its equipment including fluid.

Cavitation bubble interaction with compliant structures on a microscale: A contribution to the understanding of bacterial cell lysis by cavitation treatment

Numerous studies have already shown that the process of cavitation can be successfully used for water treatment and eradication of bacteria. However, most of the relevant studies are being conducted on a macro scale, so the understanding of the processes at a fundamental level remains poor. In attempt to further elucidate the process of cavitation-assisted water treatment on a scale of a single bubble, the present paper numerically addresses interaction between a collapsing microbubble and a nearby compliant structure, that mechanically and structurally resembles a bacterial cell. A fluid–structure interaction methodology is employed, where compressible multiphase flow is considered and the bacterial cell wall is modeled as a multi-layered shell structure. Simulations are performed for two selected model structures, each resembling the main structural features of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial cell envelopes. The contribution of two independent dimensionless geometric parameters is investigated, namely the bubble-cell distance δ and their size ratio ς. Three characteristic modes of bubble collapse dynamics and four modes of spatiotemporal occurrence of peak local stresses in the bacterial cell membrane are identified throughout the parameter space considered. The former range from the development of a weak and thin jet away from the cell to spherical bubble collapses. The results show that local stresses arising from bubble-induced loads can exceed poration thresholds of cell membranes and that bacterial cell damage could be explained solely by mechanical effects in absence of thermal and chemical ones. Based on this, the damage potential of a single microbubble for bacteria eradication is estimated, showing a higher resistance of the Gram-positive model organism to the nearby bubble collapse. Microstreaming is identified as the primary mechanical mechanism of bacterial cell damage, which in certain cases may be enhanced by the occurrence of shock waves during bubble collapse. The results are also discussed in the scope of bacteria eradication by cavitation treatment on a macro scale, where processes of hydrodynamic and ultrasonic cavitation are being employed.

Hood Flutter Under Transient Aerodynamic Loads

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">Automobile hood design is driven by many factors, such as strict government regulations, fuel economy, weight, manufacturability, aerodynamic performance, aesthetics, structural integrity, and pedestrian safety standards. The requirement of improved fuel economy and safety regulations like pedestrian protection drive designers to reduce the thickness of the hood parts and use lighter materials. This leads to significant reduction in the hood stiffness. The hood needs to withstand steady and unsteady aerodynamic loads and meet deflection and vibration targets. The susceptibility of the hood to adverse aero load response is increased as the stiffness of the hood is reduced.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">The objective of this study is to develop a methodology to simulate hood behavior under transient aerodynamic loads in controlled environments. This study mainly focuses on developing fluid structure interaction methodology to simulate the behavior of the hood system under transient aerodynamic loads.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">A flat plate approach was applied to create disturbance in wind flow to simulate a vehicle in front of the target vehicle in wind tunnel. This situation is simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software to generate transient aerodynamic loads.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">The CAE simulations help to understand the hood behavior under transient aero load and mitigate the risk of excessive hood vibration in early development stages of the hood design.</div></div>

Blast protection of steel reinforced concrete structures using composite foam-core sacrificial cladding

The current investigation presents the effectiveness of a composite foam-core sacrificial cladding for blast protection of steel Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures using explicit finite element analysis in LS-DYNA. Fluid-structure interaction (FSI) methodology was employed to obtain the deformation and damage of steel-reinforced concrete columns under explosive impact. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the effectiveness of an array of PVC foam cones used as the back layer of a composite sacrificial cladding to protect RC structures from close-in explosions. Simulations were carried out for several blast loading conditions by changing the explosive mass and the stand-off distance. The study was divided into two parts; first, the response of the RC column under blast loading was analyzed and, afterwards, the column was re-examined with the use of composite sacrificial cladding attached on its façade. Based on the analyses, it was proved that the foam conical-array configuration developed in this work that consists the rear layer of the composite sacrificial cladding, reduces the peak force applied on the concrete structure by 50% compared against the same protective configuration, where a uniform rear foam layer of the same thickness was used, whereas it is by 71% lighter than the conventional sheet core.

Fluid-structure interaction Simulation for Hydro-elastic Performance of marine Propeller at Full-Scale

In this study, CFD-FEM bi-directional fluid structure interaction (FSI) methodology using STAR-CCM+ is adapted for the hydro-elastic interaction simulation of the propeller at full-scale. To validate the FSI simulation reliabilities, the open-water curve of the rigid and NAB propellers VP1304 at model scale are computed. Then, the propeller KP505 is employed for the open-water test to study scale effect and hydro-elastic performance. The change of thrust coefficient, torque coefficient, efficiency, stress distribution, deformation are presented. From the results, the hydrodynamic difference due to scale effect and hydro-elastic performance are observed. Analysis of structural response of NAB propeller shows that scale effect plays a role.

Numerical analysis of stenoses severity and aortic wall mechanics in patients with supravalvular aortic stenosis

Supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) is an aortic malformation characterized by a narrowing of the ascending aorta, resulting in abnormal hemodynamics and pressure drop across the stenosed region. It has been observed that the pressure drops measured from Doppler ultrasound exams often tend to be higher than those obtained from invasive cardiac catheterization. These misleadingly elevated pressure measurements may drive the decision to refer patients for surgical treatment prematurely.Considering this strong clinical association, the purpose of this work is to develop a computational modeling approach using a two-way coupled fluid-structure interaction methodology to determine an accurate prediction of trans-stenotic pressure drop and to further highlight the discrepancy between the SVAS assessment methods. Blood is modeled using Navier-Stokes equations while the aortic wall is simulated by a composite poroelastic structure to represent the three main layers of the arterial wall. The relationship between aortic wall elasticity and the blood flow conditions is examined in varying levels of stenosis, ranging from mild to severe degrees of vessel diameter narrowing.A substantial overestimation of the traditional Doppler pressure drop measurement is observed, especially for severe stenosis levels. The simulation results indicate that elasticity of the aortic wall has a relatively little effect on trans-stenotic pressure drop for the range of mild to moderate SVAS cases, but predicted to have a profound effect for severe SVAS cases. Moreover, significant sensitivity to the pressure drop across the SVAS region from stenosis severity is observed.

Time-Domain Aeroelasticity Analysis by a Tightly Coupled Fluid-Structure Interaction Methodology

A tightly coupled fluid-structure interaction (FSI) methodology is developed for aeroelasticity analysis in the time domain. The preconditioned Navier–Stokes equations for all Mach numbers are employed and the structural equations are tightly coupled with the fluid equations by discretizing their time derivative term in the same pseudo time-stepping method. A modified mesh deformation method based on reduced control points radial basis functions (RBF) is utilized, and a RBF based mapping algorithm is introduced for data exchange on the interaction interface. To evaluate the methodology, the flutter boundary and the limit cycle oscillation of Isogai wing and the flutter boundary of AGARD 445.6 wing are analyzed and validated.

Accurate and efficient analysis of dynamic runner stresses considering hydrodynamic damping effects

Safe and reliable dynamic designs of Francis and pump turbine runners require an accurate and efficient prediction of the dynamic response during operation including dynamic stresses. If resonance phenomena cause significant dynamic amplifications, response amplitudes strongly depend on damping effects, and numerical simulations have to include realistic damping behavior. For submerged components like turbine runners, hydrodynamic (flow-induced) damping and hydro-acoustic radiation are much greater than structural or material damping, but cannot be assessed sufficiently accurate by simple assumptions. Therefore, a newly developed fluid-structure interaction (FSI) methodology is presented which offers accurate and efficient harmonic response analyses of submerged structures not only accounting for added-mass effects but also for flow-induced damping and acoustic radiation. The acoustic FSI approach, widely used to consider added-mass effects, is enhanced by convective terms to include fluid forces caused by the deflection of the mean flow due to structural motion. Only a stationary flow solution, obtained from standard computational fluid dynamics analyses, is required as additional input. The linearized second-order system with non-proportional damping matrix is solved in frequency domain using a Krylov subspace based model order reduction technique. The methodology is validated using experimental damping data from an elastic hydrofoil in a cavitation tunnel. A first application to a prototype Francis runner, being excited close to resonance by rotor-stator interaction, reveals a significant influence of the operating condition on hydrodynamic damping and dynamic stresses. The numerical results for both part load and full load agree very well with measured prototype strains. Meanwhile, the automated methodology is applied as a standard tool within the hydro-mechanical runner design process ensuring dynamically safe and reliable runner designs.

On the Modeling of Patient-Specific Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Fluid-Structure Interaction Approach.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive treatment for high-risk patients with aortic diseases. Despite its increasing use, many influential factors are still to be understood and require continuous investigation. The best numerical approach capable of reproducing both the valves mechanics and the hemodynamics is the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) modeling. The aim of this work is the development of a patient-specific FSI methodology able to model the implantation phase as well as the valve working conditions during cardiac cycles. The patient-specific domain, which included the aortic root, native valve and calcifications, was reconstructed from CT images, while the CAD model of the device, metallic frame and pericardium, was drawn from literature data. Ventricular and aortic pressure waveforms, derived from the patient's data, were used as boundary conditions. The proposed method was applied to two real clinical cases, which presented different outcomes in terms of paravalvular leakage (PVL), the main complication after TAVR. The results confirmed the clinical prognosis of mild and moderate PVL with coherent values of regurgitant volume and effective regurgitant orifice area. Moreover, the final release configuration of the device and the velocity field were compared with postoperative CT scans and Doppler traces showing a good qualitative and quantitative matching. In conclusion, the development of realistic and accurate FSI patient-specific models can be used as a support for clinical decisions before the implantation.

Model structure effect on static aeroelastic deformation of the NASA CRM

PurposeThis paper aims to present a computational aeroelastic capability based on a fluid–structure interaction (FSI) methodology and validate it using the NASA Common Research Model (CRM). Focus is placed on the effect of the wind tunnel model structural features on the static aeroelastic deformations.Design/methodology/approachThe FSI methodology couples high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics to a simplified beam representation of the finite element model. Beam models of the detailed CRM wind tunnel model and a simplified CRM model are generated. The correlation between the numerical simulations and wind tunnel data for varying angles of attack is analysed and the influence of the model structure on the static aeroelastic deformation and aerodynamics is studied.FindingsThe FSI results follow closely the general trend of the experimental data, showing the importance of considering structural model deformations in the aerodynamic simulations. A thorough examination of the results reveals that it is not unequivocal that the fine details of the structural model are important in the aeroelastic predictions.Research limitations/implicationsThe influence of some changes in structural deformation on transonic wing aerodynamics appears to be complex and non-linear in nature and should be subject to further investigations.Originality/valueIt is shown that the use of a beam model in the FSI approach provides a reliable alternative to the more costly coupling with the full FE model. It also highlights the non-necessity to develop precise, detailed structural models for accurate FSI simulations.

Natural Frequency Region – Fluid-Structural-Interaction approach for dynamic impact predictions and experimental verification of rubber–metal bonded systems with fluid

This paper presents an integrated procedure for dynamic impact predictions and an experimental verification of rubber–metal bonded components with fluid to be used as a potential application in rail vehicle suspensions. There are three steps involved in the procedure. First, a quasi-static analysis was performed to verify the elastic properties of the rubber material using hyperelastic models. Second, a dynamic impact evaluation on selected hydro-mounts without fluid was conducted using the Natural Frequency Region (NFR) approach. Finally, a coupled NFR (with Fluid-Structural-Interaction) approach, different from the usual viscoelastic methods, was initiated to predict the dynamic impact responses of these components with the fluid in time domain. All the analyses have been validated with experimental data. The first two stages have been briefly described and the third stage is detailed in this paper. It should be noted that a powerful computer with multi-central processing units is essential to obtain a reasonable result within an acceptable time frame. It took approximately 40 h wall-clock time to complete the analysis using a workstation with 10 central processing units. It has been suggested that the natural frequency region–fluid–structure interaction methodology is reliable and could be used at the design stage and for engineering applications.

Numerical methodology for fluid-structure interaction analysis of nuclear fuel plates under axial flow conditions

Shell-type fuel elements are widely used in nuclear research reactors. The nuclear fuel is contained in parallel shells, flat or curved, that are separated by narrow channels through which the fluid flows to remove the heat generated by fission reactions. A major problem of this fuel assembly design is the hydraulic instability of the shells caused by the high flow velocities. The objective of the study presented here is the development of a fluid-structure interaction methodology to investigate numerically the onset of hydroelastic instability of flat-shell-type fuel elements, also known as plate-type fuel assemblies, under axial flow conditions. The system analyzed consists of two nuclear fuel plates bounded by three-equal coolant channels. It is developed using the commercial codes ANSYS CFX for modeling the fluid flow and ANSYS Mechanical to model the plates. The fluid-structure interaction methodology predicts a behavior consistent with other theoretical and experimental works. Particularly, the maximum deflection of the plates is detected at the leading edge and it is a linear function of the square of the fluid velocity up to the Miller’s theoretical value. For velocities above this value, a nonlinear relationship is observed. This relationship indicates that structural changes are taking place in the plates. Furthermore, for fluid velocities greater than the Miller’s velocity, an extra deflection peak is observed near the trailing edge of the plates. Thus, structural alterations also happen along the length of the flat-shells.

A framework for designing patient-specific bioprosthetic heart valves using immersogeometric fluid-structure interaction analysis.

Numerous studies have suggested that medical image derived computational mechanics models could be developed to reduce mortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular diseases by allowing for patient-specific surgical planning and customized medical device design. In this work, we present a novel framework for designing prosthetic heart valves using a parametric design platform and immersogeometric fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis. We parameterize the leaflet geometry using several key design parameters. This allows for generating various perturbations of the leaflet design for the patient-specific aortic root reconstructed from the medical image data. Each design is analyzed using our hybrid arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian/immersogeometric FSI methodology, which allows us to efficiently simulate the coupling of the deforming aortic root, the parametrically designed prosthetic valves, and the surrounding blood flow under physiological conditions. A parametric study is performed to investigate the influence of the geometry on heart valve performance, indicated by the effective orifice area and the coaptation area. Finally, the FSI simulation result of a design that balances effective orifice area and coaptation area reasonably well is compared with patient-specific phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging data to demonstrate the qualitative similarity of the flow patterns in the ascending aorta.

A new formulation for air-blast fluid–structure interaction using an immersed approach. Part I: basic methodology and FEM-based simulations

In this two-part paper we begin the development of a new class of methods for modeling fluid–structure interaction (FSI) phenomena for air blast. We aim to develop accurate, robust, and practical computational methodology, which is capable of modeling the dynamics of air blast coupled with the structure response, where the latter involves large, inelastic deformations and disintegration into fragments. An immersed approach is adopted, which leads to an a-priori monolithic FSI formulation with intrinsic contact detection between solid objects, and without formal restrictions on the solid motions. In Part I of this paper, the core air-blast FSI methodology suitable for a variety of discretizations is presented and tested using standard finite elements. Part II of this paper focuses on a particular instantiation of the proposed framework, which couples isogeometric analysis (IGA) based on non-uniform rational B-splines and a reproducing-kernel particle method (RKPM), which is a Meshfree technique. The combination of IGA and RKPM is felt to be particularly attractive for the problem class of interest due to the higher-order accuracy and smoothness of both discretizations, and relative simplicity of RKPM in handling fragmentation scenarios. A collection of mostly 2D numerical examples is presented in each of the parts to illustrate the good performance of the proposed air-blast FSI framework.