A fluid-structure solver for confined microcapsule flows

We present a fluid-structure coupling method designed to study capsules flowing in a confined environment. The fluid solver is based on the Finite Volume Method and is coupled to a Finite Elements solid solver using the Immersed Boundary Method. We study the relaxation of a spherical capsule, initially deformed into an ellipsoid, and released in a square cross-section channel within a quiescent fluid environment. We perform a convergence study in order to validate the numerical method and consider the effect of the inertial forces on the capsule relaxation