Computer codes for fluid-structure interactions

Three fluid dynamics codes, PELE-IC, PELE 3D and MAUI are available for the analysis of fluid-structure interactions where the fluid motion is drastic enough to cause difficulties in the Lagrangian formulation. The fluid-structure-interaction algorithms in these codes have been developed for the analysis of the dynamic response of coupled fluid-structure systems. The fluid motion is computed using an Eulerian differencing formulation and the structural motion is determined from a finite element code. The coupling is affected across the Lagrangian boundary defining the structure. These codes can be used over a wide range of fluid and structural motions. The incompressible fluid approach in the PELE codes is used when the effects of compressibility are minimal and the acoustic approximation suffices. The explicit algorithm of the MAUI code can handle those situations where compressible effects are important, and it can also accommodate shock waves. All three codes are in the public domain.