An implicit time domain boundary element model of fluid-structure interaction

An implicit three dimensional time domain boundary element model of fluid-structure interaction has been developed. The approach is similar to the typical boundary element method for a fluid domain where the governing field equation is the starting point. The difference is that Volterra's method is used where the starting point becomes the time derivative of the governing field equation. The boundary element model was then iteratively coupled to a finite element model of flexible structures. Large scale laboratory experiments were conducted to verify the numerical model. Good agreement was found between predicted and measured displacements of the flexible structure.