APPLICATION OF FLUID-STRUCTURE INTERACTION SIMULATIONS IN THE OPTIMISATION CYCLE OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP IMPELLERS

Viorel Bostan; Andrei Petco; Dumitru Odainîi; Dmitrii Croitor; Vadim Zubac; Nadejda Proca

doi:10.52326/jes.utm.2026.33(1).01

Authors

Viorel Bostan Technical University of Moldova, 168, Ștefan cel Mare Blvd., Chisinau, Republic of Moldova https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2422-3538
Andrei Petco Technical University of Moldova, 168, Ștefan cel Mare Blvd., Chisinau, Republic of Moldova https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5984-7375
Dumitru Odainîi Technical University of Moldova, 168, Ștefan cel Mare Blvd., Chisinau, Republic of Moldova https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6587-6247
Dmitrii Croitor Technical University of Moldova, 168, Ștefan cel Mare Blvd., Chisinau, Republic of Moldova https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9033-8543
Vadim Zubac Technical University of Moldova, 168, Ștefan cel Mare Blvd., Chisinau, Republic of Moldova https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5003-0729
Nadejda Proca Technical University of Moldova, 168, Ștefan cel Mare Blvd., Chisinau, Republic of Moldova https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7854-7599

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52326/jes.utm.2026.33(1).01

Keywords:

Additive Manufacturing, Centrifugal pump, impeller, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Fluid-Structure Interaction

Abstract

The integration of fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations into the design cycle of centrifugal pump impellers is an important part of this methodology, ensuring the safe conduct of bench tests. This study evaluates the behaviour of the CH 100/32-11-1 pump impeller using a combined numerical workflow involving ANSYS CFX and Mechanical. After a thorough analysis of mesh convergence, the hydraulic loads obtained from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) data were transferred to the structural domain for quantitative assessment of equivalent stresses and strains. The analysis shows that the maximum equivalent stress for the optimised geometry is 24.45 MPa, which is within the tensile strength limit of PA12, confirming the feasibility of manufacturing a functional prototype using a Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). A comparative assessment with respect to the CH 6.3/20-1.1-2 and CH 100/125-75-5 models shows a non-linear scaling of structural loads, with the latter demonstrating critical failure stresses (51.7 MPa) exceeding the material's strength limits. The results confirm that the Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) numerical model is an important filter in the preparation stage for prototyping turbomachinery components using additive technologies.

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APPLICATION OF FLUID-STRUCTURE INTERACTION SIMULATIONS IN THE OPTIMISATION CYCLE OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP IMPELLERS

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