The Fluid-Shell Interaction, Fixed Geometry Interface
The Fluid-Shell Interaction, Fixed Geometry () interface can be used to model phenomena where a fluid and a deformable shell structure affect each other. Both the fluid loading on the structure and the structural velocity transmission to the fluid can be taken into account. The interface models situations where the displacements of the shell are assumed to be small enough for the geometry of the fluid domain to be considered as fixed during the interaction.
You add a predefined Fluid-Shell Interaction, Fixed Geometry interface from the Fluid-Structure Interaction () group in either the Structural Mechanics branch () or the Fluid Flow branch () of the Model Wizard or Add Physics windows. Laminar Flow and Shell interfaces are then added to the Model Builder.
In addition, the Multiphysics node is added, which automatically includes the multiphysics coupling feature Fluid-Structure Interaction.
On the Constituent Physics Interfaces
The Laminar Flow interface is described in The Single-Phase Flow, Laminar Flow Interface. When the CFD Module is available, turbulent flow is supported through the inclusion of a number of turbulence models.
You can add a Stationary, One-Way FSI or Time Dependent, One-Way FSI studies. See Stationary and Time Dependent One-Way Studies for Fluid-Structure Interaction in the COMSOL Multiphysics Reference Manual for more information.
Settings for Physics Interfaces and Coupling Features
When physics interfaces are added using the predefined couplings, all specific settings are included with the physics interfaces and the coupling features.
However, if physics interfaces are added one at a time, followed by the coupling features, these modified settings are not automatically included.
For example, if single Laminar Flow and Shell interfaces are added, COMSOL Multiphysics adds an empty Multiphysics node. You can choose from the available coupling features, but the modified settings are not included.
Coupling features are available from the context menu (right-click the Multiphysics node) or from the Physics toolbar, Multiphysics Couplings menu.
Physics Interfaces and Coupling Features
Coupling Features
The Fluid-Structure Interaction coupling feature is used to couple the interfaces.
Physics Interface Features
Physics nodes are available from the Physics ribbon toolbar (Windows users), Physics context menu (macOS or Linux users), or right-click to access the context menu (all users).
In general, to add a node, go to the Physics toolbar, no matter what operating system you are using. Subnodes are available by clicking the parent node and selecting it from the Attributes menu.