Fluid, meet Structure.




The open-source SU2 package for CFD analysis and design was conceived as a platform for multi-physics research. We've been hard at work improving our C++ class architecture to more easily support the addition of new physical models and their coupling at a high-level, and today we are releasing a powerful new example in the form of a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) capability embedded within SU2 version 4.2 "Cardinal."

Download SU2 v4.2

In collaboration with the Load Control and Aeroelastics Lab at Imperial College London, we proudly present our native FSI framework. A Finite Element (FE) structural solver, able to deal with geometrical and material non-linearities in a static and a dynamic setting, has been built within the framework of SU2 alongside the existing fluid solvers. Following the original object-oriented architecture in C++, a new structure compliant with the CFD solver has been developed. The structural solver has been coupled with the original fluid solver in SU2 using a partitioned approach. The structure of the code was recast to easily enable analysis across multiple geometric zones and physical problems, including proper communication. Both loosely- and strongly-coupled strategies are available for the solution of the coupled FSI problem.

For more information about the native FSI solver, please see the AIAA SciTech 2016 paper detailing the techniques. For details on the latest FSI work in SU2, including additional approaches through Python and external modules, look for our paper available in the proceedings of ECCOMAS 2016. And don't miss our recent AIAA Journal article covering the entire SU2 suite!

SU2 in the AIAA Journal

SU2 v4.2 contains many new features and improvements, including the following:

  • Native Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) solver.
  • Unsteady discrete adjoint for the Euler, Navier-Stokes, and RANS equations.
  • Increased robustness of the pseudo-structural mesh deformation routines.
  • Memory and efficiency improvements related to parallel file readers, mesh partitioning, and class data management.
  • Expanded regression suite coverage to additional modules and new test cases.
  • Improved solution output for RANS visualization.
  • General bug fixes and performance improvements.

SU2 v4.2 is now available on our Download page and GitHub. As always, we remain grateful to the open-source community for their interest, help, support, and contributions.