Numerical simulations of a flexible disk rotating close to a rigid rotating wall

In this paper, we present a numerical study about the dynamics of a flexible disk rotating close to a rigid rotating wall. Two new types of flat stabilizers, co-rotating and counter-rotating flat stabilizers, are introduced besides the well-known fixed-stabilizer type which has been studied extensively. The disk is modeled using linear plate theory and the air flow between the flexible disk and the rigid wall is modeled using Navier-Stokes and continuity equations. The flow equations are discretized using finite volume method (FVM) and solved numerically with semi-implicit method for pressure-linked equations (SIMPLE) algorithm, while the spatial terms in the disk model are discretized using finite difference method (FDM) and time integration is performed using fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. The transient numerical simulation is performed to compare the stability boundaries of the different types of flat-stabilizer at a wide range of circumferential mode numbers. The numerical results showed an improved stability of the flexible disk when rotating close to a counter-rotating flat-stabilizer compared with co-rotating and fixed flat-stabilizers.