Replication Data for: A Modified Overset Method in OpenFOAM for Simultaneous Motion and Deformation: A Case Study of a Flexible Flapping Foil

The influence of wing deformation in animal propulsion and motion is an intriguing phenomenon that has contributed to a growing interest in biomimetics in both academia and industry. The study focuses on developing a robust numerical tool for analyzing the motion of biological systems in fluid flows, crucial to understanding fluid-structure interaction (FSI) phenomena. The research introduces a new mesh deformation solver, dynamicOversetZoneFvMesh, designed to address limitations in OpenFOAM’s conventional Overset method. This solver enables the application of both rigid body motion and deformation at specified patches within certain zones, allowing for more complex motion scenarios. Through meticulous verification, parallelization, validation, and mesh convergence studies, the modified Overset solver’s reliability is confirmed. Two cases are examined: a rigid-body flapping foil and a flexible foil with leading-edge deformation. Results demonstrate the adapted solver’s proficiency in managing complex fluid dynamics and accommodating simultaneous motion and deformation. Furthermore, the study reveals that leading-edge flexibility improves the power extraction efficiency of flapping foils, aligning with previous literature. Overall, the research lays the foundation for advancing FSI simulations and opens avenues for addressing previously challenging problems in the field.

动物推进与运动中的翼面变形效应是一项引人入胜的研究现象，推动了学术界与工业界对仿生学的研究热情持续高涨。本研究聚焦于开发一款鲁棒性优异的数值工具，用于分析流体流动中生物系统的运动规律，这对理解流固耦合（fluid-structure interaction, FSI）现象至关重要。本研究提出了一款全新的网格变形求解器dynamicOversetZoneFvMesh，旨在解决OpenFOAM传统Overset方法存在的局限性。该求解器支持在指定区域内的指定边界面片处同时实现刚体运动与变形，从而能够适配更为复杂的运动场景。通过严谨的验证、并行化处理、校核以及网格收敛性研究，本研究证实了改进型Overset求解器的可靠性。本研究选取两个算例开展分析：一是刚体拍动翼型，二是带有前缘变形的柔性翼型。计算结果表明，该改进求解器能够高效处理复杂流体动力学问题，同时兼容运动与变形的耦合工况。此外，本研究发现前缘柔性可提升拍动翼型的功率捕获效率，这一结论与既往研究成果相符。总体而言，本研究为推动流固耦合模拟技术的发展奠定了基础，并为解决该领域此前颇具挑战性的问题开辟了新路径。