A dynamical system approach is utilized to reduce the representation order of unsteady fluid flows and fluid-structure interaction systems. This approach allows for significant reduction in the computational cost of their numerical simulations, implementation of optimization and control methodologies and assessment of their dynamic stability. In the first chapter, I present a new Lagrangian function to derive the equations of motion of unsteady point vortices. This representation is a reconciliation between Newtonian and Lagrangian mechanics yielding a new approach to model the dynamics of these vortices. In the second chapter, I investigate the flutter of a helicopter rotor blade using finite-state time approximation of the unsteady aerodynamics. The analysis showed a new stability region that could not be determined under the assumption of a quasi-steady flow. In the third chapter, I implement the unsteady vortex lattice method to quantify the effects of tail flexibility on the propulsive efficiency of a fish. I determine that flexibility enhances the propulsion. In the fourth chapter, I consider the stability of a flapping micro air vehicle and use different approaches to design the transition from hovering to forward flight. I determine that first order averaging is not suitable and that time periodic dynamics are required for the controller to achieve this transition. In the fifth chapter, I derive a mathematical model for the free motion of a two-body planar system representing a fish under the action of coupled dynamics and hydrodynamics loads. I conclude that the psicform fish family are inherently stable under certain conditions that depend on the location of the center of mass. / Ph. D. / We present modeling approaches of the interaction between flying or swimming bodies and the surrounding fluids. We consider their stability as they perform special maneuvers. The approaches are applied to rotating blades of helicopters, fish-like robots, and micro-air vehicles. We develop and validate a new mathematical representation for the flow generated by moving or deforming elements. We also assess the effects of fast variations in the flow on the stability of a rotating helicopter blade. The results point to a new stable regime for their operation. In other words, the fast flow variations could stabilize the rotating blades. These results can also be applied to the analysis of stability of rotating blades of wind turbines. We consider the effects of flexing a tail on the propulsive force of fish-like robots. The results show that adding flexibility enhances the efficiency of the fish propulsion. Inspired by the ability of some birds and insects to transition from hovering to forward motion, we thoroughly investigate different approaches to model and realize this transition. We determine that no simplification should be applied to the rigorous model representing the flapping flight in order to model transition phenomena correctly. Finally, we model the forward-swim dynamics of psciform and determine the condition on the center of mass for which a robotic fish can maintain its stability. This condition could help in designing fish-like robots that perform stable underwater maneuvers.

Cette thèse de doctorat porte sur le calcul par la méthode des éléments finis du comportement dynamique de réservoirs élastiques précontraints contenant un liquide interne à surface libre. Nous considérons que la pression hydrostatique exercée par le fluide interne incompressible sur les parois flexibles du réservoir est à l’origine de grands déplacements, conduisant ainsi à un état d’équilibre non-linéaire géométrique. Le changement de raideur lié à cet état précontraint induit un décalage des fréquences de résonances du problème de vibrations linéaires couplées.L’objectif principal du travail est donc d’estimer, par des approches numériques précises et efficaces, l’influence des non-linéarités géométriques sur le comportement hydroélastique du système réservoir/liquide interne autour de différentes configurations d’équilibre. La méthodologie développée s’effectue en deux étapes. La première consiste à calculer l’état statique non-linéaire par une approche éléments finis lagrangienne totale. L’action du fluide sur la structure est ici modélisée par des forces suiveuses hydrostatiques. La deuxième étape porte sur le calcul des vibrations couplées linéarisées. Un modèle d’ordre réduit original est notamment proposé pour limiter les coûts de calcul associés à l’estimation de l’effet de masse ajoutée. Enfin, divers exemples sont proposés et comparés à des résultats de la littérature (issus de simulations numériques ou d’essais expérimentaux) pour montrer l’efficacité et la validité des différentes approches numériques développées dans ce travail. / This doctoral thesis focuses on the calculation by the finite element method of the dynamic behavior of prestressed elastic tanks containing an internal liquid with a free surface. We consider that the hydrostatic pressure exerted by the incompressible internal fluid on the flexible walls of the tank causes large displacements, thus leading to a geometric non-linear equilibrium state. The change of stiffness related to this prestressed state induces a shift in the resonance frequencies of the coupled linear vibration problem. The main objective of the work is therefore to estimate, through precise and efficient numerical approaches, the influence of geometric nonlinearities on the hydroelastic behavior of the reservoir/internal liquid system around different equilibrium configurations. The methodology developed is carried out in two stages. The first one consists in calculating the non-linear static state by a total Lagrangian finite element approach.The action of the fluid on the structure is modelled here by hydrostatic following forces. The second step is the calculation of linearized coupled vibrations. In particular, an original reduced order model is proposed to limit the calculation costs associated with the estimation of the added mass effect. Finally, various examples are proposed and compared with results from the literature (from numerical simulations or experimental tests) to show the effectiveness and validity of the different numerical approaches developed in this work.