Simulation of Fluid-Structure-Actuator Interactions in Flexible Structures using Piezoelectric Actuators for Flow Control

The precise simulation of traveling waves in flexible structures activated by piezoelectric actuators is crucial for systems that utilize flow control. Traveling waves can reduce flow separation and mitigate stall. However, experimentally generated deformations are imperfect due to actuator material properties, actuation characteristics, and fluid-structure interactions. Building on prior work, this study presents a computational framework that accounts for these deformations, enabling more accurate simulation of fluid-structure-actuator interactions. The framework uses a finite difference method to model wave deformations, representing actuators as point moments along the chordwise beam length. Structural deformations are modeled using Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, and fluid-structure-actuator interactions are simulated with an in-house curvilinear immersed boundary method. The structural solver is verified against multiple benchmark solutions. The coupled solver is validated through comparisons with analytical and experimental results.