BUBBLE DYNAMICS FLUID-STRUCTURE INTERACTION SIMULATION BY COUPLING FLUID BEM AND STRUCTURAL FEM CODES

The dynamics of bubbles and their interaction with nearby bodies, in t he absence of structural deformation, have been studied effectively us ing boundary-element based computer programs. However, in practical ap plications, the structural response, deformation, and motion can signi ficantly affect the bubble dynamics which controls structural loading, stresses, erosion and damage. In this paper we report on fully couple d fluid-structure modeling using our boundary element fluid codes (2DY NAFS, 3DYNAFS) and existing finite element structural codes (NIKE2D, N IKE3D) and present some example results. Significant effects due to th e structural response on the bubble dynamics are observed including mo dification of the bubble period, re-entrant jet formation, and pressur e generated on the solid body. These results indicate that structural characteristics can significantly affect erosion and damage to a struc ture by nearby cavitation or explosion bubbles. (C) 1995 Academic Pres s Limited.