Coupling Computational Structural and Crowd Dynamics

Abstract

A loosely coupled algorithm is presented that allows to combine Computational Structural Dynamics (CSD) and Computational Crowd Dynamics (CCD) codes in order to solve, in a cost-effective manner, pedestrian-structure interaction problems. The basic structural and crowd dynamics codes are altered as little as possible. The surfaces of the structure where pedestrians transit are used to transfer the required information between codes. The transfer of loads, displacements, and velocities is carried out via fast interpolation and projection algorithms. The loosely coupled algorithm can also be modified in order to obtain a fully coupled algorithm via iterative loops. Experience gained from several calculations indicates that the proposed approach offers a convenient and cost-effective way of coupling CSD and CCD codes without a complete re-write of them.