Simulation Fluid-Structure Interaction 2D Water Wheel

In this simulation of a fluid-structure interaction, a 2D water wheel is set in motion by a water jet. The water wheel is modeled as a rigid body and has only rotational degrees of freedom around the z-axis.

CAD creating groups for water wheel case

Figure 1: CAD groups created in NOGRID's COMPASS

2D water wheel case setup within NOGRID points CFD software's GUI

Figure 2: Setup the FSI 2D Water Wheel Case

2D water wheel GUI results in NOGRID points CFD software

Figure 3: Result view of the FSI 2D Water Wheel case within NOGRID points' GUI

Animation 2D water wheel in NOGRID points CFD software

Figure 4: Animation of the 2D FSI Water Wheel

The fluid-rigid body interaction simulated in this study is solved in a fully coupled manner using a Lagrangian approach. Fully coupled means that the motion (translation and rotation) of the water wheel (= the rigid body) and the fluid variables for velocity and pressure are solved simultaneously in a large solution matrix (no iterative switching back and forth between the solution variables necessary). In engineering, Fluid-Structure-Interaction (FSI) refers to the consideration of the mutual influence of moving, not necessarily rigid bodies and a flow. The interaction between fluid flow and bodies occurs in many physical applications.
The water flow causes the rigid bodies to rotate due to the forces and torques exerted on the bodies by the fluid. Conversely, the motion of the water wheel causes changes in the flow. If the flow also changes due to the structure, there is a so-called real, two-sided fluid-rigid-body coupling. When several rigid bodies are involved, the motion of one body can of course also be affected by collisions with other bodies.

As with every rigid body in the FS coupling, the water wheel, which is mounted to rotate around the z-axis, is assigned a weight and a mass moment of inertia. The rigid body responds according to the forces exerted on it by the fluid. Conversely, of course, the flow is also influenced by the motion of the rigid bodies. In this setup, the water wheel is assumed to rotate without friction, meaning it can turn freely without resistance.

NOGRID points can be effectively applied to the design and problem solving for all kinds of FSI processes. The software helps to understand the flow by computing and visualizing the mass, momentum, and motion of single or multiple rigid bodies. It provides transient data that can be used to analyze and evaluate the performance and efficiency of components or processes.

Capabilities of NOGRID points CFD software

NOGRID combines capabilities to handle free surface flow and moving parts in the domain and allows the simulation of any conceivable geometry and operating modes such as

computation is in full 3D solving complete Navier-Stokes-Equations
easy and intuitive setup also for FSI (Fluid-Structure-Interaction) cases
free definable material properties by equations or curves
evaluation of chemical reactions and corresponding heat source terms
open or closed domains including inflow and outflow areas (non-batch mode)
moving of parts

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Nogrid's strengths

Particular strengths of NOGRID's fluid flow CFD software are the rapid preprocessing (no fluid grid needs to be generated, only the boundary mesh, inner finite points are generated automatically depending on User setting initially and during computation), and the outstandingly short computation time even for complicated cavities.

As you can see in the image below, the boundary of the geometry still requires a mesh to allow the interior finite points to detect the boundary. The boundary must therefore be meshed and the finite points inside are automatically generated during the simulation controlled by User specifications.

Easy and fast modelling: Build geometry, mesh boundary, setup the case and start computation

What is CFD from NOGRID?

CFD solves the fundamental equations that define the fluid flow process. With CFD software from NOGRID every engineer makes better decisions by predicting, analyzing and controlling fluid flow, heat and mass transfer or chemical reaction. By using NOGRID software for flow modeling you receive information on essential flow characteristics as for example flow distribution. Using it additional to testing and experimentation NOGRID software helps to improve the evaluation of your design – resulting in better construction and operation parameters, increasing planning security and money savings due to faster time to the marketplace for your product or process.

Choose NOGRID

With NOGRID, you choose professional CFD software and services – our aim is helping you to be successful. When you decide to work with NOGRID you choose close cooperation with a dynamic, flat hierarchies-organization. Short information channels result in quick and accurate professional support and service. Our team consists of highly qualified employees, who are experts in fields such as numerical simulation or computational fluid dynamics. Based on our know-how, we are pleased to offer the following services, responding to your individual requirements:

TRAINING

In our two-days training courses you will learn, how to use NOGRID CFD software efficiently. Our technical support team will teach you how to handle and solve different cases.

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Lack of time or resources and other constraints often make outsourcing an attractive solution. We help you with your flow modeling needs. Based on our engineering expertise in this field we offer individual numerical simulation services matching the unique needs of your organization.

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