Modal methods in finite element fluid-structure eigenvalue problems

The technique of fixed-interface modal synthesis used to solve large structural eigenvalue problems is extended to fluid-structure eigenvalue problems with a view to efficient solution of problems involving localized modifications. Three cases are considered: namely, those fluid or fluid-structure vibration problems directly analogous to the structural case; the modification of the fluid model of a structure enclosing a compressible fluid; and the modification of fluid and structural models of a structure enclosing an incompressible fluid. Examples of the three cases are given, as are estimates of the computation that can be saved when using the methods to avoid resolving modified eigenvalue problems. It is also shown that the hard-walled modes of a fluid enclosure can be used to modify the incompressible-fluid modes of the fluid-structure system to account for a degree of compressibility in the fluid. An example and computation estimates are given.