cloudHPC empowers engineers and researchers to tackle complex Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) and multiphysics problems with unparalleled ease and performance. Leveraging powerful cloud hardware and pre-configured software, cloudHPC offers a seamless and efficient simulation workflow. This page details how you can utilize ElmerFEM, Solids4Foam, and preCICE on cloudHPC to perform robust FSI analysis, highlighting the specific versions, capabilities, and the benefits of using the cloudHPC platform.

Tackle Complex Simulations with cloudHPC’s Scalable Resources:

cloudHPC allows you to significantly reduce simulation time and explore a wider design space thanks to its powerful cloud infrastructure. Key features include:

• Massive Scalability: Run computationally intensive simulations with up to 224 vCPUs per single analysis, dramatically reducing turnaround time for complex FSI models.
• Parallel Execution: Explore multiple design variations concurrently by running up to 40 scenarios simultaneously. This allows for efficient parameter studies, optimization, and robust design verification.
• On-Demand Resources: Access high-performance computing resources only when you need them, eliminating the need for costly hardware investments and maintenance.
• Pre-configured Environment: cloudHPC comes pre-installed with the necessary software and libraries, eliminating the complexities of installation and configuration, allowing you to focus on your simulation.

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Software Suite for FSI Simulations:

cloudHPC provides a fully integrated environment with the following software components:

• ElmerFEM – v9: A powerful, open-source multiphysical simulation software. ElmerFEM is renowned for its versatility in handling various physics, including fluid dynamics, heat transfer, electromagnetics, and structural mechanics. Version 9 brings performance enhancements, improved solver capabilities, and expanded element library. The ability to define complex material models, boundary conditions, and solver settings makes ElmerFEM a robust choice for FSI.
• Solids4Foam – v2312: This robust solver extends the capabilities of OpenFOAM® for structural mechanics problems. Solids4Foam v2312 provides advanced features for simulating solid deformation, stress analysis, and material behavior. Using Solids4Foam allows users to seamlessly integrate structural analysis into their OpenFOAM®-based FSI workflows.
• preCICE – v2.5.0: An open-source coupling library specifically designed for partitioned multi-physics simulations. preCICE allows for the efficient and accurate exchange of data between different solvers, in this case, ElmerFEM for the fluid domain and Solids4Foam for the solid domain. Version 2.5.0 incorporates performance improvements, enhanced robustness, and support for more complex coupling schemes, ensuring reliable data transfer between the two solvers.

FSI Workflow on cloudHPC:

✅ Model Setup: Begin by defining your fluid and solid domains, material properties, and boundary conditions. For ElmerFEM, cloudHPC offers a significant advantage: the availability of a remote desktop environment. This allows you to use ElmerGUI, ElmerFEM’s graphical user interface (GUI), for intuitive model setup, meshing, and parameter definition.

✅ Meshing: Generate high-quality meshes for both the fluid and solid domains. Ensure that the meshes are compatible with the chosen coupling scheme in preCICE.

✅ Configuration: Configure preCICE to define the coupling scheme, data mapping, and communication parameters between ElmerFEM and Solids4Foam. This involves specifying which data (e.g., forces, displacements) are exchanged and how they are interpolated between the different meshes.

✅ Simulation Execution: Launch the simulation on cloudHPC. Choose the appropriate number of vCPUs based on the complexity of your model and desired turnaround time. Monitor the simulation progress through the cloudHPC interface.

✅ Post-processing: Visualize and analyze the results using post-processing tools. Examine fluid flow patterns, stress distributions in the solid structure, and the overall system behavior.

Benefits of Using cloudHPC for FSI:

• Reduced Simulation Time: Utilize the powerful cloud infrastructure to significantly reduce simulation runtimes, allowing you to iterate faster and explore more design options.
• Simplified Workflow: Pre-configured software and a user-friendly interface streamline the simulation process, eliminating the need for complex installations and configurations.
• Cost-Effective Solution: Pay only for the resources you use, eliminating the need for expensive hardware investments and maintenance.
• Enhanced Collaboration: Share simulation results and collaborate with colleagues seamlessly using cloud-based storage and data management tools.
• Simplified preCICE configuration: thanks to an integrated template, users can easily create the preCICE configuration file to solve the FSI problem.
• User-Friendly ElmerFEM setup: thanks to the remote desktop and the graphical user interface (GUI) ElmerGUI, the model definition and setup become straightforward.

Unmatched Support:

We understand that navigating complex FSI simulations can be challenging. That’s why cloudHPC offers dedicated support to guide you through every step of the process. Benefit from our online chat support, where our team of experts is readily available to answer your questions, troubleshoot issues, and provide guidance on best practices. Whether you need help with model setup, solver configuration, or interpreting results, our support team is here to ensure your success.

Example FSI use case:

Consider the design of a bridge exposed to wind forces. Using cloudHPC, engineers can simulate the interaction between the wind (fluid) and the bridge structure (solid). ElmerFEM can model the wind flow around the bridge, while Solids4Foam can analyze the structural response to the wind forces. preCICE ensures accurate data exchange between the two solvers, providing a comprehensive understanding of the bridge’s aerodynamic behavior and structural integrity.

By leveraging ElmerFEM, Solids4Foam, and preCICE on cloudHPC, you can unlock the power of FSI simulation and gain valuable insights into the behavior of complex systems. Contact us today to learn more and start your FSI journey on cloudHPC!

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