Fluid-structure simulation of a viscoelastic hydrofoil subjected to quasi-steady flow

Fluid-structure interaction simulations are performed for a flexible hydrofoil subjected to quasi-steady flow conditions. The hydrofoil is fabricated from a polymeric material that exhibits viscoelastic effects, causing the hydrofoil to change shape while subjected to the fluid loads. The time-dependent deformations and loads will be compared in the future to empirical results from upcoming water tunnel tests. The fluid-structure interaction simulations are performed using a tightly coupled partitioned approach, with OpenFOAM as the flow solver and a finite element solver for the structural response. The codes are coupled using a fixed-point iteration with relaxation. The flow is modeled as laminar and quasisteady. Simulations indicate the hydrofoil angle of attack (AOA) changes from zero to a negative value as the material relaxes. The approach used here is being developed for application to a blood pump that has a performance closely tied to blade deformation through the impeller tip clearance.