Multiphysics modelling of S3-type flexible tube WECs with distributed DEG PTO : bulge wave dynamics and fluid-structure-electric coupling

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Huang, Yang and Xiao, Qing and Yang, Liu and Dai, Saishuai and Lotfian, Saeid and Brennan, Feargal (2026) Multiphysics modelling of S3-type flexible tube WECs with distributed DEG PTO : bulge wave dynamics and fluid-structure-electric coupling. Energy Conversion and Management, 360. 121588. ISSN 0196-8904 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2026.121588)

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Abstract

Flexible tube wave energy converters (WECs) integrated with dielectric elastomer generator (DEG) power take-off systems offer a promising route for adaptive and distributed wave energy harvesting. In this study, a high-fidelity multiphysics fluidstructure-electricity (FSE) modelling framework is developed to investigate the coupled response of an S3 flexible tube WEC with distributed DEG units. The framework combines computational fluid dynamics, nonlinear finite element analysis, and a lumped electromechanical DEG model within a strongly coupled two-way solution strategy. After validation against laboratory measurements of voltage-induced deformation of a dielectric elastomer actuator, the model is used to examine the effects of wave period, wave amplitude, initial voltage, and DEG layer number on structural response and electrical power generation. The results show that electrostatic loading modifies the propagation of bulge waves and the associated deformation modes at short wave periods (0.9 s < w< 1.2 s), whereas at longer wave periods (1.2 s < w< 2.42 s) it primarily amplifies structural deformation. Increasing wave amplitude ratio w/ from 0.4 to 0.55 increases the time-averaged electrical power by 27%, accompanied by a 26% rise in the maximum stress. Similarly, increasing the initial voltage 0 from 1 to 6 kV enhances the mean electrical power by 55 times, while the maximum stress increased by 21%. In addition, the electrical power increases approximately quadratically with DEG layer number. Overall, the study provides physics-based insight into the coupled FSE mechanisms governing flexible tube WECs and highlights the importance of explicitly resolving electromechanical feedback for reliable performance prediction and design optimisation.

ORCID iDs

Huang, Yang ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3581-2351, Xiao, Qing ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8512-5299, Yang, Liu ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8475-1757, Dai, Saishuai ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9666-6346, Lotfian, Saeid ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8542-933X and Brennan, Feargal ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0952-6167;
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