Numerical simulation of fluid–structure interaction by SPH

A Lagrangian model for the numerical simulation of fluid–structure interaction problems is proposed in the present paper. In the method both fluid and solid phases are described by smoothing particle hydrodynamics: fluid dynamics is studied in the inviscid approximation, while solid dynamics is simulated through an incremental hypoelastic relation. The interface condition between fluid and solid is enforced by a suitable term, obtained by an approximate SPH evaluation of a surface integral of fluid pressure. The method is validated by comparing numerical results with laboratory experiments where an elastic plate is deformed under the effect of a rapidly varying fluid flow.