Three-dimensional Analysis of Two-way Fluid-structure Interaction on a Flexible Hydrofoil in Viscous Flow

Abstract

Two-way Fluid-Structure Interaction of a three dimensional hydrofoil subjected to viscous flow at Re=750000 is investigated in this paper. A rectangular, cantilevered NACA66 hydrofoil is simulated using a finite element based CSD code, while the fluid flow is modeled with the incompressible, unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations using a finite volume based CFD code. The numerical computations are carried out through a strong coupling between these two separate solvers. The strongly coupled FSI solver is validated by comparing the present numerical results with experimental measurements in a water tunnel at the French Naval Academy. To quantify the FSI effects, rigid (stainless steel) and flexible (POM Poly-acetate) hydrofoils with the same undeformed geometry are simulated and compared.