Fluid-Structure-Interaction FSI

in VWT
August 2013, Marc Ratzel
Updated to 2017 Version by Sanjay Nainani
Contents
1. Eigenmode analysis in OptiStruct
• Define constraints, material and property for the
structural model
• Perform analysis *.op2 file
• Generate a surface mesh model and export for VWT

2. FSI case setup in Virtual Wind Tunnel

• Load surface mesh model
• Perform case setup and define flexible parts
• Choose an appropriate time step and start the transient
analysis
• Review automatically generated report

3. Post-processing in HyperView
• Velocity and displacement contour plots
• Animation of the results

Required Software
• HyperMesh 2017.2
• AcuSolve 2017
• Virtual Wind Tunnel 2017.2
• HyperView 2017.2
 I. Eigenmode Analysis in OptiStruct

1. Load the OptiStruct User Profile

2. Load “flap.hm”
3. Create a load Collector and name it “Bottom”

4. Open Constraints Panel

5. Select the nodes at the bottom of the flap and constraint
all DOF’s
6. Create a Material Collector

Enter the Material values as shown in the image

7. Create a PSOLID property collector and assign the material
to it.

Assign this Property to the Component

8. Create a EIGRL load Collector and Assign it the shown
values

9. Create a Normal Modes Load Step

10. Go to the Control Cards Panel and click on the Output
Card

Output the OP2 file and set the values as shown

11. Save the model as “flap_setup.hm” and run it in
OptiStruct

12. Open HyperView and load the .op2 file

13. Choose Modal Animation Mode

14. Select the first frequency and view the contour plot

15. Before importing the model to Virtual Wind Tunnel, we

must generate a shell surface on top of the tetra elements.
For this go back to HyperMesh, then go to Tools>>Faces
panel.
16. Select the flap component and click on find faces

This will generate a new component named “^faces”.

Rename it “flap_surface”
Right click on this component and click on Isolate Only
17. Now go to Export Panel and export the mesh in “Fluent
(nastran)” format as “flap_surface.nas”. (This will export
only the displayed mesh)
 II. Flap Case setup in VWT

1. Open VWT and Import the “flap_surface.nas” file

2. Create a Wind Tunnel and adjust the dimensions to “L=7,

w=4, h=3”
3. Switch to Orthographic Projection

4. Position the Wind Tunnel in such a way that the flap model
penetrates the wind tunnel ground using the move tool.
Note: Don’t move the flap model. The eigen modes have
been computed for a specific location of the flap. Changing
the flap’s location, will make the eigen modes invalid.

5. Click on the flap part in the Model Browser to open the

Property Editor. Mar the checkbox next to “Flexible”.
Select the “flap.op2” file generated before using
OptiStruct.

6. Save the model as “.stmod”

7. Click on the Run icon and enter the values as shown and
click on “Run”
After this is completed an automatic report is generated.
III. Post-processing in HyperView