A quasi-monolithic localized high-order ALE finite element method for multi-scale fluid-structure interaction problems
It addresses the challenge of stable and accurate multi-scale FSI simulations in microfluidic systems, particularly under strong added-mass coupling that destabilizes conventional partitioned schemes.
The paper presents a quasi-monolithic localized high-order ALE finite element method for multi-scale fluid-structure interaction, achieving second-order temporal accuracy and reproducing the Turek-Hron FSI3 benchmark beam-tip amplitude and frequency within 3%.
This paper presents a quasi-monolithic localized high-order arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (qMLH-ALE) finite element method for multi-scale fluid-structure interaction (FSI) in microfluidic systems. The fluid momentum, the incompressible Neo-Hookean constitutive law, and the left Cauchy-Green tensor $\mathcal{B}$ are assembled into a single implicit system, while the harmonic mesh extension is updated explicitly in a staggered manner. Isoparametric $\mathcal{P}_2$ elements provide third-order geometric approximation of curved fluid-solid interfaces, and a second-order implicit-explicit partitioned Runge-Kutta scheme delivers second-order temporal accuracy without the dissipation of backward Euler. A localized updating strategy confines the moving mesh and the deformation history to a body-fitted sub-domain coupled with a precomputed steady background flow, bridging the scale disparity between local FSI dynamics and the macroscopic microchannel geometry. The Turek-Hron FSI3 benchmark, performed at unit fluid-solid density ratio, reproduces the reference beam-tip amplitude and frequency within $3\%$, confirming stability under the strong added-mass coupling that destabilizes conventional partitioned schemes. Three-dimensional particle-focusing simulations in spiral microchannels further illustrate the framework on long-range multi-scale problems.