Validation of a SPH-FEM Model for Seal Dynamics of Surface Effect Ships

A two-dimensional, loosely coupled SPH-FEM model is utilized to investigate its application in the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) problems for Air Cushion Vehicles (ACV) and Surface Effect Ships (SES). The fluid model is based on the theory of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), and the structural dynamics model employs a large-deformation Finite Element Methods (FEM). A two-dimensional free-stream flow interacting with a deformable, pressurized surface, such as an ACV/SES bow seal, is simulated. The dynamics of deformable surfaces such as the skirt/seal systems of the ACV/SES utilize the large-deformation FEM model. The fluid part, including the air inside the chamber and water, are simulated by SPH. A validation case is performed via comparison with experimental data (Zalek and Doctors, 2010). The validation results have suggested that this SPH-FEM model accurately reproduces the simulated model test case, and may be cautiously applied and developed further for more complicated cases of skirt/seal dynamics of ACV/SES vehicles interacting with free-surface flows.