Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) in Oil & Gas - Why It Matters for Your Assets

Every pipeline, pressure vessel, and structural support in your facility operates in a world where fluid forces and mechanical behaviour are inseparable. A surge in flow, a slug of liquid, a sudden pressure spike — these events don't just stress your fluid systems, they physically deform, vibrate, and fatigue your structures in ways that traditional engineering analysis often fails to capture.

That gap between what your analysis predicts and what actually happens in the field? Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) closes it.

The Problem with Conventional Analysis

Most structural and process analyses treat fluid loads and mechanical responses as separate problems. You calculate pressures, then apply them as static loads on a structure. But in reality, the fluid and structure are constantly reacting to each other — creating a bidirectional, closed-loop relationship between fluid movement and structural dynamics. Ignoring this two-way interaction leads to unexpected failures, conservative overdesign, or both.

What FSI Simulation Does for You

• Predicts failures before they happen — vibration fatigue, flow-induced resonance, and stress hotspots in pipelines, nozzles, and support structures are identified at the design stage, not during an unplanned shutdown
• Captures dynamic events accurately — slug flow, pressure surges, and liquid sloshing in storage tanks create transient forces that no static analysis can replicate; FSI models these in real time
• Reduces overengineering — by understanding actual load interactions, you design to what's needed rather than adding unnecessary safety margins that drive up material and fabrication costs
• Bridges design intent and field reality — decisions made with FSI insight are grounded in how your equipment truly behaves under operating conditions, improving safety and extending asset life

What You'll Walk Away With

This webinar is designed for engineers and project decision-makers in oil & gas — no prior FSI knowledge needed. You'll gain a practical understanding of:

• What FSI is and why it's increasingly essential for upstream, midstream, and downstream assets
• When to use coupled vs. uncoupled simulation approaches — and the cost-benefit trade-off of each
• How a sloshing analysis and transient load prediction protect storage and process equipment
• How a structural response under fluid-induced forces is modelled and interpreted
• Real-world case studies directly from oil & gas applications — problems you'll recognise, solutions you can apply

Tools Covered

The session will demonstrate industry-standard workflows using Ansys Mechanical and LS-DYNA, including coupled CFD–FEA setups and advanced material modelling — tools your teams may already use, now applied in a more powerful, integrated way.

Who Should Attend

• Project Managers in Oil & Gas
• Mechanical and Structural Engineers
• Design and Analysis Professionals
• Engineering Consultants

Speaker

Satyajeet Phadtare

Project Leader | FEA