A nonconforming finite element method for fluid-structure interaction problems

In this paper, we develop a nonconforming finite element methodology using a three-field formulation to analyze a fluid-structure interaction problem. The methodology is used to couple a Lagrangian model describing the structure with the arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian strategy used to describe the fluid in order to simulate a full unsteady physical phenomenon. Consistency error estimates are obtained which show that the numerical scheme employed yields a first order approximation for the solution to the fluid-structure interaction problem. Finally, we present a discrete energy estimate to demonstrate the stablity of the proposed method. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.