Bi-directional fluid-structure interaction for large deformation of layered composite propeller blades

Bi-directional fluid-structure interaction becomes important when viscous flow changes the geometry of the domain significantly because of the pressure load. Large deformation in domain causes numerical convergence problems, which are solved by mesh smoothing, re-meshing and a time discrete iterative solver algorithm using industrial computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis code. In this paper, this approach is used for laminated composite propellers considered as mixers. It experiences heavy thrust, which causes large deformations. Each layer of laminate is modeled as a solid element with anisotropic material data. Comparative study is presented between uni-directional and bidirectional fluid-structure interaction for mixer blades. Change in pressure distribution, stress distribution, thrust, torque and pitch angle of the blade are presented in later parts of the paper. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.