Stability, convergence and optimization of interface treatments in weak and strong thermal fluid-structure interaction

This paper presents the stability, convergence and optimization characteristics of interface treatments for steady conjugate heat transfer problems. The Dirichlet-Robin and Neumann-Robin procedures are presented in detail and compared on the basis of the Godunov-Ryabenkii normal mode analysis theory applied to a canonical aero-thermal coupling prototype. Two fundamental parameters are introduced, a “numerical” Biot number that controls the stability process and an optimal coupling coefficient that ensures unconditional stability. This coefficient is derived from a transition of the amplification factor. A comparative study of these two treatments is made in order to implement numerical schemes based on adaptive and local coupling coefficients, with no arbitrary relaxation parameters, and with no assumptions on the temporal advancement of the fluid domain. The coupled numerical test case illustrates that the optimal Dirichlet-Robin interface conditions provide effective and oscillation-free solutions for low and moderate fluid-structure interactions. Moreover, the computation time is slightly shorter than the time required for a CFD computation only. However, for higher fluid-structure interactions, a Neumann interface condition on the fluid side presents good numerical properties so that no relaxation coefficients are required.