Numerical Simulation of Cross-Flow-Induced Fluidelastic Vibration of Tube Arrays and Comparison With Experimental Results

Abstract

Tube arrays exposed to air, gas or liquid cross-flow can vibrate due to vortex-shedding, turbulence, or fluidelastic instability. The major emphasis of this paper is on the phenomenon of fluidelastic instability (or fluidelastic vibration). A numerical model is applied to the simulation of fluidelastic vibration of representative tubes in a tube bundle, based on S. S. Chen’s unsteady flow theory. The results are validated against published data based on linear cases. The model is then applied to a nonlinear structure of a U-bend tube bundle with clearances at supports, and the computed results compared to those obtained by experimental testing. The numerical studies were performed using the ABAQUS-EPGEN finite element code using a special subroutine incorporating fluidelastic forces. It is shown that the results of both the linear and nonlinear modeling are in good agreement with experimental data.

Dynamics of Cross-Flow Heat Exchanger Tubes With Multiple Loose Supports

“…A time-domain forcing function equivalent to Connors [8,9] equation has been developed by Sauve [17]. Eisinger et al [18] developed a finite element code in ABAQUS to simulate the FEI of non-linear tube bundles. Most of the studies related to heat exchanger tubes are based on axisymmetrically flexible tube bundles, in those cases the instability occurs in transverse direction to the flow.…”

Wind-structure interaction simulations of ovalling vibrations in silo groups

“…The existence of such wind-induced or more generally flow-induced vibrations has been known for quite some time in other industrial applications as well, e.g. in tube bundles of heat exchangers [73,142,230] or when flutter is considered for airplane wings [76,79,80]. While flow-induced vibrations are mainly studied for their often destructive consequences, it is interesting that such instabilities are not always undesirable.…”

“…power-generating and chemical plants [73,142,230] but also in membrane pumps [36] and turbomachinery [14,228,280,281]. Aeronautical applications such as the flutter of airplane wings have been widely studied [76,79,80] while other applications such as parachute dynamics have also been considered in more recent years [244,245,247,250].…”

Experiment on fluidelastic instability of loosely supported tube arrays in crossflow

“…Because a loosely supported tube in crossflow is a nonlinear dynamic system with many interesting nonlinear characteristics, a series of analytical investigations have been reported recently (Axisa et al 1988;Fricker 1992;de Langre et al 1992; Paidoussis and Li 1992; Vento et al 1992; Eisinger et al 1991;Cai andChen 1991, 1992). Most of the analyses are based on the quasistatic or quasisteady flow theories, which are applicable in some specific parameter range only.…”

“…Most of the analyses are based on the quasistatic or quasisteady flow theories, which are applicable in some specific parameter range only. Several analyses are based on the unsteady flow theory (Eisinger et al 1991;Cai andChen 1991, 1992;Chen and Chen 1993), which is expected to provide more accurate prediction.…”