In modern industry, resort to numerical simulation represents the standard at the base of every new design. Virtual prototyping allows to save costs and time associated to the production of new optimized components, and the accuracy of the numerical solution plays a crucial role in the reduction of number of iterations required to arrive at the final design. Research in computational mechanics is increasingly aiming at the formulation of complex interaction modelling for multi-physics. The final goal is to pave the way toward simulating as close as possible the anticipated behaviour of the prototype in its different operational states.
The present project follows this approach, by capitalizing on the expertise of its members in the different fields of mechanics. The main aim is to achieve a complete description in terms of models, numerical formulations and interface algorithms to simulate a rotor machine, when a strong interaction takes place between the dynamics of fluid and solid (e.g., fluid structure interaction-FSI and/or particle laden flows).
As far as rotor design for open (propellers, wind turbines, helicopter rotors) and ducted (turbomachinery and fans) applications is concerned, the current state-of-the-art is quite satisfactory. However, the introduction of new materials and concepts markedly increased the flexibility of the blades, so that aero-elastic effects become crucial in evaluating blade performance and loads.
Similar considerations apply to material wearing. This process may considerably alter the shape and roughness of the profile during its operating life, thus affecting the flow field and, in turn, the motion of transported particles and their erosive effect.
The present proposal is divided in two macro-areas: a) fluid structure interaction; b) particle¿structure and aerodynamic interaction. Each of them will be analysed in depth by means of dedicated models.
