On Finite Element Method Application in Computational Aeroelasticity

The paper focus on numerical approximation of the coupled of fluid and structural models in aeroelastic simulations as well as to the coupling of both models. The fluid motion is described by the incompressible Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations (RANS) and coupled with Spallart-Almaras turbulence model. The numerical solution by finite element method stabilized with the Galerkin Least Squares (GLS) method is applied onto RANS system of equations. The Spallart- Almaras turbulence model is numerically approximated by the finite element method and streamline upwind/Petrov-Galerkin (SUPG) method is employed to stabilize the convective terms. The airfoil motion is described by a system of ordinary differential equations. The airfoil motion results in deformations of the computational domain, which are treated with the aid of Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian(ALE) method. Numerical results for several model problems and comparison to NASTRAN computations as well as to available experimental data are presented