Fluid-Structure Interaction Simulation Approach for Highly Flexible Structures

For the past several decades, a vast amount of research has gone into the development and advancement of computational methods specifically designed for single traditional disciplines of physics or its associated computational mathematics. This continuous investment has paid o over time such that individual discipline computational methods for solids and fluids have reached a high level of maturity. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Computational Structural Dynamics (CSD) solvers have become reliable routine analysis tools for aerospace and aeronautics applications. With the increase in computational resources available, we are now at a point where the simulation of complex multi-physics problem, in particular fluid-structure interaction (FSI), becomes feasible. Nevertheless, current methodologies to conduct FSI simulation lack maturity to robustly and accurately model advanced FSI problems, such as encountered for the supersonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerator or parachutes deployed in extreme supersonic ow conditions. Advancing the FSI simulation capabilities will help to improve our understanding of relevant multi-physics phenomena, which is imperative to drive innovation and novel discoveries. In the proposed research, we are evaluating and testing a highfidelity computational FSI method which can be used to simulate FSI problems involving highlyflexible nonlinear materials and extreme (supersonic) ow conditions. The distinguishing features of the FSI approach are that it (i) requires minimal user-interaction, (ii) employs a higher-order accurate discretization approach for the CFD and CSD solvers, (iii) employs a robust and (preferably provable) stable discretization, in particular at domain boundaries and FSI interfaces, and (iv) employs a highly-scalable, multi-resolution algorithm.