Simulation of 3D parachute fluid–structure interaction based on nonlinear finite element method and preconditioning finite volume method

Abstract

A fluid-structure interaction method combining a nonlinear finite element algorithm with a preconditioning finite volume method is proposed in this paper to simulate parachute transient dynamics. This method uses a three-dimensional membrane-cable fabric model to represent a parachute system at a highly folded configuration. The large shape change during parachute inflation is computed by the nonlinear Newton-Raphson iteration and the linear system equation is solved by the generalized minimal residual (GMRES) method. A membrane wrinkling algorithm is also utilized to evaluate the special uniaxial tension state of membrane elements on the parachute canopy. In order to avoid large time expenses during structural nonlinear iteration, the implicit Hilber-Hughes-Taylor (HHT) time integration method is employed. For the fluid dynamic simulations, the Roe and HLLC (Harten-Lax-van Leer contact) scheme has been modified and extended to compute flow problems at all speeds. The lower-upper symmetric Gauss-Seidel (LU-SGS) approximate factorization is applied to accelerate the numerical convergence speed. Finally, the test model of a highly folded C-9 parachute is simulated at a prescribed speed and the results show similar characteristics compared with experimental results and previous literature. ª 2014 Production and hosting by Elsevier Ltd. on behalf of CSAA & BUAA.

A finite element model for fluid–structure interaction problems involving closed membranes, internal and external fluids

“…The aim of the first example is to validate the structural model. The example (proposed in [33] and used for validation purposes in [11] square surfaces sewn along four edges) by considering one fourth of one of the airbag surfaces. The initial geometry is shown in Fig.…”

“…In order to facilitate the comparison with [11], the results of the present simulation were superimposed with the data from the mentioned paper (see Fig. 6).…”

“…The deformation of the structure, in turn, provides the location of the discontinuity and the velocity boundary conditions for the fluid problem. Examples of this overall setting can be found in [9], [10], [11].…”

Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Parachute Finite Mass Inflation

“…Moreover, an FSI method, combining a nonlinear finite element algorithm with a preconditioning finite volume method, and a simplified ALE FSI method were proposed to simulate the infinite mass inflation dynamics of a parachute. Although the FD equations were efficiently solved [9,10], these studies do not contain any detailed information about the SD computation.…”

Numerical Study of Extra-Large Parachute’s Pre-Inflation in Finite Mass Situation

“…Karagiozis et al used the large eddy simulation method to investigate the supersonic parachute [12]. Fan proposed the nonlinear finite element method based on the implicit algorithm to calculate the C9 parachute inflating process [13]. Gao et al used the explicit interface tracking method and the permeability of canopy was considered [14].…”