2-way FSI of a (composite) propeller using CFX
 

Hello everyone,

I am trying to conduct a two-way coupled FSI simulation of a propeller in ANSYS workbench. I need the two-way coupling since the propeller will (in future simulations ...) be flexible enough to justify the two-way coupling.

I have already read through a lot of threads on this forum / ansys tutorials / etc. but some questions still remain unclear to me.

But first off; here is a short description of the setup I have used:

Structural:
- transient simulation
- only blade (no hub!) modelled
- specified FSI interface for entire blade except the surface that would intersect with the hub
- at the surface that would intersect with the hub I have applied a remote displacement BC to enforce the blade rotation

CFX:
- transient simulation
- rotor / stator approach
- rotor: domain motion: option rotating: according to angular velocity of propeller
- rotor: transient rotor stator interface at inflow / outflow / "shroud" surfaces of rotor domain
- "system coupling" mesh motion option for blade surface
- rotor: "unspecified" mesh motion option for hub, inflow, outflow, shroud surfaces

Workbench:
- specified CFX to be first in coupling sequence (The reasoning behind this was to ensure that the rotor domain in CFX has already rotated when deformations resulting from the structural model are applied.)

Is this approach valid ? I am not sure whether the combination of rotating domain and FSI works the way I intend it to.

If I understood right from other threads, another option would be to model the hub and possibly even the shroud surface on the structural side (shroud as rigid) and enforce the rotation of the domain in CFX solely by the coupling (OR specify e.g. the location of the nodes on the shroud surface by using the "specified location" option and a User defined CEL) -- without any domain motion in CFX. Is that correct ?

I would also be happy if anyone could refer me to tutorial / videos / ... that actually show how to perform a transient coupled analysis of some kind of rotating machinery !

Best Regards,

Leif