A STUDY OF THE HYDROELASTIC STABILITY OF A COMPLIANT PANEL USING NUMERICAL METHODS

Abstract

A numerical method is developed which can simulate the interaction between a finite compliant panel and an unsteady potential flow. A boundary‐element technique yields the flow solution whilst finite‐differences are used to solve the wall dynamics; these are then coupled to generate a fully interactive wall/flow system. Thus, the evolution of any wall disturbance can be followed. Parallel computing is appropriately employed and a stability investigation of a realistic compliant panel is carried out. Three‐dimensional flexural waves are found below a critical flow speed whilst beyond this threshold, essentially two‐dimensional unstable divergence waves are found. The form of divergence shows good agreement with that seen in experimental studies. The versatility of this new method will permit the investigation of a wide variety of single‐ and multi‐panel configurations subject to different forms of excitation.