A Comparison of Fluid/Structure Coupling Methods for Reduced Structural Models

Kurzfassung

In this paper, the realisation and testing of spatial coupling methods for aeroelastic simulations with partitioned algorithms is presented. The investigated methods for spatial coupling - the transfer of loads and deformations between the wetted surface and the strucutral model - are the method of Finite Interpolation Elements and two other, newly-implemented interpolation methods. All three are suitable for reduced structural models, and the geometries of the wetted surface and the structural model do not have to coincide. The aeroelastic simulation tool employed and the theoretical background of the spatial coupling schemes are outlined. Different measures for the quality of the spatial coupling are derived and applied to test cases of increasing complexity. The influence of user-defined coupling parameters on the deformation projection is assessed. Based on these results and on practical considerations, the available coupling methods are compared and conclusions are drawn regarding their applicability