An explicit ''ALE'' finite element formulation for 3D transient dynamic fluid-structure interaction problems

Finite element models, implemented in the computed code EURDYN-3M, are presented for the prediction of the non-linear response of three-dimensional fluid-structure systems exposed to transient dynamic loading. An arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian kinematical description of the fluid domain is adopted in which the grid points can be displaced independently of the fluid motion. This formulation leads to an easy and accurate treatment of fluid-structure interfaces and permits significant fluid sloshing and swirling to occur without producing excessive distorsions of the computational mesh. Two numerical examples are presented to illustrate the potential of the proposed modelling procedures