Simulating Hypersonic Fluid Structural Interaction of an Inclined Cantilever Panel Using the Conservation Element Solution Element Method

Abstract

This manuscript presents the simulation of the Fluid Structural Interaction (FSI) of a cantilever compliant panel in hypersonic flow. The problem is resolved through multiphysics coupling in the commercial software package LS-DYNA and employs the use of the Immersed Boundary Method (IBM) within the Conservation Element Solution Element (CESE) solver framework using explicit time stepping. The CESE method encompasses many non-traditional features that makes it aptly suited for the study of hypersonic flows, including, a unified treatment of space and time, and a Riemann-free shock solver. The study of hypersonic FSI is of high importance due to restrictive weight requirements resulting in thin panels that are prone to deformation. The understanding of the aeroelastic effects is important to ensure continued operation of geometry sensitive regions such as inlets and control surfaces.