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6-1-1983
A Theoretical Model for the Cross-Flow Induced
Fluid-Elastic Instability in Heat Exchanger Tube
Bundles
James Howard Lever
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Recommended Citation
Lever, James Howard, "A Theoretical Model for the Cross-Flow Induced Fluid-Elastic Instability in Heat Exchanger Tube Bundles"
(1983). Open Access Dissertations and Theses. Paper 1445.
http://digitalcommons.mcmaster.ca/opendissertations/1445
A THEORETICAL MODEL FOR
THE CROSS-FLOW INDUCED

IN HEAT TUBE BUNDLES
by
JAMES HOIiARD LEVER, B.ENG., M.A.'Sc.
Submitted to the
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School of Graduate Studies
in. Partial Fulfilment of the 'Requirements
the Degree
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of Philosophy
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McMaster University
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June 1983

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FLUID-ELASTIC INSTABILITY IN.
HEAT EXc;HANGERS
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DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (1983)
,(Mechanical Engineering)
McMASTER UNIVERSITY
Hamilton, Ontario
,TITLE: A Theoretica:lt Model for the Cross-Flow Induced
Fluid-Elastic Instability' in Heat Tube
Bundles.
AUTHOR: James H"bward. Lever,' B.E!1g., (McMaster UniversityJ
M.A.Sc. (University of Toronto)
SUPERVISOR: Dr. D.S. Weaver
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NUMBER OF PAGES:
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xv, 235
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To my witeKaren and daughter Allison,
and to my parents and sisters; whose
affectihns are valued most of all.
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ABSTRACT
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A theoretical model has been developed from
first princples for the cross-flow induced fluid-elastic
instability in heat exchanger tube A series of
experiments were conducted to verify assumption
that only a s.ingle tube need be modelled in a flow channel
which preserves the basic ge9metry of the array. The'
mechanism of dynamic instability is found to be.one of flow
tedistribution due to transverse tube motion and a phase lag
resulting from Static instabilities in both
streamwise and transverse directions are" also predicted, but
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at 'reduced flow velocities the transverse
dynamic instability. good agreement is found with
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available experimental data, for parallel
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,trianguiar and arrays, without the need for empirical
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fluid force coefficients; The model includes the effects of
array and pitch.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
The author would like to express his sincere gratitude
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to Dr. D.S. Weaver, who fulfilled the roles of both
supervisor and teacher with enthusiasm and dedication.
Many thanks Dave.
The author would also like to thank Mr. William
D'Netto for'his helpful discussions during the model
development, particular the transient case study,'and Mr.
Peter Scott and Mr. Ralph Harris for their considerable
efforts 'devoted to the computer generated stability plots.
The careful and efficient typing of this manuscript by Mrs.
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Marilyn Warren is also gratefully acknowledged, as is the
Financial support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering
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Research Council of Canada.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF TABLES
NOMENCLATURE
. ~ H A P T E R 1 INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
CHAPTER 3 PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENTS
3.1 Experimental Equipment
3.2 Experimental Results
CHAPTER 4 FURTHER'SIMPLIFYING ASSUMPTIONS
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CHAPTER,S THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENT
5.1 Transverse Dynamic Instability
5;1. 1 Model Formulation
5.1.2 Solution'of One-Dimensional 45
Flow EquatJ.ons

(a) Upstream Region

(b) Attached Flow Region
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5.1.3 Tube Dynamics
5'.1.4 Stability Analysis
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61
, ' 5.,1.5 Pressure Force Coefficient 64
and Phase Angle
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5.2.1 Model Formulation
5.3 Streamwise Vibration
5.3.1 Model Formulation
6.1 Geometric Parameters
Page
66
67
68
73
73
74
76
81
82
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85
93
95
96
98
10.1
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5.3.4 Streamwise Dynamic Instability
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'5.3.2 Solution of the One-
Dimensional Flow Equations
5.2.3 Stability Analysis
5.2.2 Solution of the One-
Dimensional Flow Equations
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5.3.3 StabilityAnalysis
7.3 C,Jrr.pa.r i,;;on Threshold
Curves with Experimental Stability
Data for Individual Arrays
7.2 Numerical Threshold Equations
for Arrays of Interest
7.1 Stability Threshold Curves in
C;ompact Form
5.2 Transverse Static Instability
6.2 Relationship Between h and CD

5.3.5 Streamwise Static Instability

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CHAPTER 6 TUBE-IN-CHANNEL MODEL PARAMETERS
CHAPTER 7 NUMERICAL RSSULTS
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7 '.3.1 Parallel "Triangular Array, 104 "
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P/d = 1. 375
7.3.2 Square Array, P/d
=
1. 33 107
7.3.3 Squars Array, P/d
=
2.0 110

7.4 Pitch and Pattern Effects 113

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CHAPTER 8
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7.5 Pressure Force and
Phase Angle for Transverse
Dynamic Instability
7.6 sensit\vity
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DISCUSSION OF NUMERICAL RESULTS

8.1 Predicted Threshold Curves for

Individual Arrays L

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8.1.1
8.1. 2
Relative Importance of
Dynamic versus Static"
Instabilities '

Theoretical Transverse
Dynamic Stability Curves
and Experimental Data
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133
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8.2 Discussion of Pitch and Pattern
Effects
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8.3 Pressure Force Coefficient and
Phase ,Angle
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139
Consideration of the Sensitivity 143
Analysis
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8.,5 Behaviour of Transverse Dynamic
Irtstability Mechanism at Low
Reduced Velocity
148
CHAPTER 9 POSSIBLE MODEL EXTENSIONS AND EFFECTS 155
OF NEIGHBOURING TUBE MOTION
9.1 Inclusion of Viscosity Explicitly 155
in I-D Flow Equations
9.2 Development of a Two-Dimensional 157
Formulation
9.2.1 Formulation 158,
9.2.2' Approach to tbe Solution
of the 2-D Flow Equations 161
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9.3 Qualitative Effect of
Tube Motion
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Neighbouring
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CHAPTER 10 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES
APPENDIX A
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184
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