Fluid Structures Interaction

RANS is the most practical way to perform fluid/structures interaction or fluid-induced motion simulations.  Motions are often caused by unsteady bluff-body separation or vortex shedding, and therefore require viscous flow methods at least as capable as RANS.  AFT’s overset methods lend themselves perfectly to these applications since near-field grid blocks can be made to follow the body while far-field grid blocks remain Earth-fixed.  Fine resolution (and therefore accuracy) are maintained near crucial separation points, but the complexity of moving far-field boundaries is avoided. 

The AFT approach has worked well for simulating free-fall of odd shaped bodies, flutter, vortex-induced motion of offshore platforms and drill risers, and dynamic stall of turbines.  It has also been used to help design and verify vortex-induced motion mitigation devices.  Click on a menu item at left to see examples of how AFT has used RANS-based fluid/structures interaction to aid its customers’.