Experimental Validation of Fluid-Structure Interaction Co-Simulations Using ANSYS via Wind Tunnel Testing of Cantilevered Plate

Abstract Validation of numerical simulations is a key step in gaining confidence in the fidelity of computational models for a given application. These simulations take on additional complexity in fluid structure interactions when the body being studied experiences flow-induced deformation. In this study, experiments are conducted on a cantilevered aluminum plate mounted in a wind tunnel. Experimentally, deflections are measured using Digital Image Correlation and axial bending strains are measured using strain gages and. These values are compared to a coupled fluid-structure interaction simulation, which co-simulated the structural (Lagrangian FEA) and fluid (Navier-Stokes CFD) computational methods. Within the simulations, FEA parameters including mesh size, mapping method, and mesh type were varied; CFD parameters that were varied include turbulence theory, mesh sizing, inflation layer, mapping method, and Courant Number. Values were varied to study their effects on the simulation solution, as well as to ensure mesh independence of the solution relative to both simulation domains. Experiments were conducted on an Aluminum (6061-T6) plate measuring 152.4 × 50.8 × 0.61 mm. The plate was positioned in the wind tunnel at two different angles relative to the oncoming flow and Reynolds numbers of 98,000–247,000 were considered. The numerical simulation demonstrates agreement with DIC displacements and good agreement with measured strains with deflections up to ∼ 11 mm. Future steps are discussed.