Fluid-Structure Interaction

Reaction Engineering has significant experience working with advanced fluid-structure interaction modeling. For ten years, REI has worked closely with the state-of-the-art MPMICE code developed at the University of Utah. For over a decade, the University of Utah housed the Center for the Simulation of Accidental Fires and Explosions (C-SAFE), one of the DOE Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) centers. C-SAFE focused specifically on providing state-of-the-art, science-based tools for the numerical simulation of accidental fires and explosions, especially within the context of handling and storage of highly flammable materials. The MPMICE code and the associated Uintah Computational Framework are the products of this decade-long effort.

REI has leveraged the full capabilities of the MPMICE code to perform advanced FSI simulations for both the Army and Marine Corps, focusing on soil-bound blast effects against ground vehicles. To perform these comprehensive simulations, REI has coupled MPMICE to both DYNA3D and LS-DYNA to handle the complexities of the finite element vehicle models. The proprietary coupled codes created by REI represent the state-of-the-art for end-to-end blast to occupant simulations as well as other complex defense applications. Even without DYNA3D/LS-DYNA, MPMICE provides sophisticated FSI capabilities for modeling casing failure and fragmentation, using modeling methodologies that are superior to traditional ALE techniques. The DYNA3D/LS-DYNA codes provide the capabilities necessary to efficiently model the complex geometries and thin materials found in the vehicle models.

In addition to the advanced modeling capabilities REI has created using MPMICE and DYNA3D/LS-DYNA, REI also makes use of LS-DYNA's stand-alone capabilities for advanced defense modeling. SPH and ALE are used commonly used to carry out advanced simulations. REI also makes use of CTH and other simulations tools depending on the type of problem being studied.

 Contact us to find out how these capabilities can be used to help with your application.