Role of fluid-structure interaction in free convection in square open cavity with double flexible oscillating fins

Abstract The problem of transient free convection in an open cavity containing two elastic thin fins is studied in this paper. The left surface is heated, and the right surface is in opening, which is in contact with the environment air. The dimensionless forms of the governing equations for continuity, momentum and heat transfer in the fluid and structures domains are written in Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) formulation. The governing equations are solved by the finite element method (FEM). The governing parameters considered are the oscillating fin direction, fin amplitude and length with several flexibility values and aperture sizes. The results show that a maximum heat transfer enhancement occurs at the suitable parameters between the aperture size and the fins oscillating direction.