Fluid Motion Simulation using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics in ABAQUS

Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics or SPH method has received attention from its very beginning. SPH addresses modelling needs where traditional FEM is insufficient. SPH is a meshless method which is useful for modelling of fluid motion as well as applications where extreme deformation is happening.

In the upcoming example we will see the fluid modelling capability of SPH method with the example of water pouring from the jar.

The modelling of the setup is done by creation of a jar which holds water and a vessel in which the water will be poured, both are modelled as 3D discrete rigid parts. Water is created as deformable 3D solid with the properties of water such as density, Equation of state and viscosity respectively.

Now the necessary arrangement of parts have been done in assembly representing colour coding to get clear identification.

The analysis is created in Abaqus/Explicit with application of general contact condition and rigid body constraints are created with two reference points respectively.

Gravity is acting in negative Y direction as shown in below figure and by encastering both the reference points rotational movement is given to jar containing water with reference to Z axis for the water fall condition.

Meshing has been done by the following way:

Quad type of mesh is applied on Jar, vessel. Now here very important step is creation of particles to define fluid. This has to be done in meshing option by starting Conversion to particle as Yes.

In below figure we can see different representation of the same model is shown for water body. The left one is traditional mesh of volume occupied by the water and right representation showing the same volume is occupied by the discrete points without nodes and elements which is an alternative way to define fluid particle.

Summarizing the above example, it is very clear that Abaqus /Explicit has full capability to simulate the dynamic fluid flow scenarios.

Applications of SPH:

• Fluid flows like sloshing effect, spraying
• Destruction and fragmentation followed by impact
• Wave engineering
• Ballistics

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