Coupling techniques for computational non-linear transient aeroelasticity

Some numerical aspects for the coupling process of a discrete non-linear aeroelastic system are presented. The objective of this paper is two-fold: first, a consistent time-integration method of the whole coupled system is developed and the robustness is shown. Second, several data transfer methods - conservative interpolation, Galerkin-based transfer, dual-Lagrange-based transfer, and Sobolev-norm-based transfer - are employed and the importance of an accurate transfer scheme is demonstrated. Numerical results obtained from simulations of an oscillating one-dimensional plate in a transonic flow and a three-dimensional wing example serve as a typical benchmark problem to show the applicability of the presented concepts and the importance on the behaviour of an aeroelastic system.