3-D Modeling of Fluid-Structure Interaction With External Flow Using Coupled LBM and FEM

Three dimensional fluid-structure interaction was modeled using the coupled lattice Boltzmann and finite element methods. The latter technique was applied to model the structural behavior while the former was used to model the fluid field. For computationally efficient modeling of external flow over embedded pipes with their interaction, the pipes were modeled using 3-D beam elements rather than shell elements. This paper presents an algorithm for how to couple 3-D beam finite elements with the lattice Boltzmann grids so that the fluid-structure interaction can be properly modeled at the outer surfaces of pipes. Some numerical examples were analyzed using the developed technique, and the fluid-structure interaction characteristics were examined through the examples.