Modeling Fluid-Solid Interaction
It’s no accident that in Version 9.2, users can model collision between objects with FLOW-3D’s General Moving Object model. Exciting new modeling possibilities include debris flows, opening and closing valves, counter-meshing gears, and big-particle collision. This robust model, the only one of its kind in commercial CFD codes, allows users to model rigid body dynamics with six-degrees-of-freedom (DoF) fully coupled with fluid flow. Some of the highlights of this powerful model are:
- Allows up to 500 moving objects, each of which can possess 6 DoF, or rotate about a fixed axis or a fixed point. Other motion constraint patterns are also possible.
- Objects can be fully coupled with fluid flow or the user can prescribe their motion.
- There is no restriction on complexities of geometry and motion for objects.
- Model collisions and continuous contact between moving and moving/non-moving objects.
- Specified time-dependent forces and torques can be applied to the objects.
- Hydraulic, gravitational, non-inertial and control forces and torques can be calculated.
- Full post-processing capabilities, including visual and numerical output.
Several examples using the GMO model, with and without collision, are described below. Click on each image to open an animation of the results.
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Simulation Examples
Click on each image below to view a full simulation
Log Transport in a Spillway (with collision) This simulation depicts log transport in a spillway. The motion of the logs is dynamically coupled with water flow. Floating logs collide with each other and with the wall, step and bottom of the channel. |
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Side Launching of Ship (with collision) This simulation depicts a side launch of a warship from its building site. The slide of the ship with the slipway is treated as a series of micro-collisions and is simulated using the collision model. The floating of the ship is calculated with dynamic coupling with water motion. |
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Prescribed Motion of a Gear (with collision) |
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Debris Flow (with collision) This animation depicts stone motion driven by water stream in a stepped channel. The stones experience many collisions between each other and with the channel bottom. Motion of each stone is the result of the combined effect of collision impact, hydraulic force and gravitational force. |
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Water Wheel This simulation depicts the flow of water out of a aqueduct and onto a free-turning water wheel, causing the wheel to rotate about its axis. This simulation shows coupled fluid-structure interaction with a restraint about a fixed axis. |
Ladle Filled with Hot Metal |
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Open Valve This simulation depicts the flow of water through a pipe, causing a valve to open. The valve's motion is about a fixed axis. |
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Mixing Tank This simulation of a mixing tank depicts two fluids being stirred by rotating blades. A constant velocity was applied to the impeller. |
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Buoyant Cubes This simulation depicts a buoyant cube being dropped into fluid, causing another cube to toss about. |
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Mixing Tank with Two Blades This simulation shows two interleaved blades mixing two fluids in a tank. |
