Fluid-structure interaction analysis of mixed convection heat transfer in a lid-driven cavity with a flexible bottom wall

A numerical investigation of steady laminar mixed convection heat transfer in a lid driven cavity with a flexible bottom surface is analyzed. A stable thermal stratification configuration was considered by imposing a vertical temperature gradient while the vertical walls were considered to be insulated. In addition, the transport equations were solved using a finite element formulation based on the Galerkin method of weighted residuals. In essence, a fully coupled fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis was utilized in this investigation. Moreover, the fluid domain is described by an Arbitrary-Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) formulation that is fully coupled to the structure domain. Comparisons of streamlines, isotherms, bottom wall displacement and average Nusselt number were made between rigid and flexible bottom walls. The results of this investigation revealed that the elasticity of the bottom wall surface plays a significant role on the heat transfer enhancement. Furthermore, the contribution of the forced convection heat transfer to that offered by natural convection heat transfer has a profound effect on the behavior of the flexible wall as well as the momentum and energy transport processes within the cavity. This investigation paves the road for future research studies to consider flexible walls when augmentation of heat transfer is sought. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.