Experimentally-tuned finite element model of flow-induced vibrations in a square tube bundle subjected to cross-flow

It has been recognized that modeling of the complex dynamics of fluidelastic forces, that give rise to vibrations of tube bundles, requires a comprehensive dynamic model of high fidelity based on experimental insight. Accordingly, the prediction of the flow-induced vibration due to unsteady crossflow can be greatly aided by semi-analytical models, in which some coefficients are determined experimentally. In this paper, the elastodynamic model of the tube array is formulated using the finite element approach, wherein each tube is modeled by a set of finite tube-elements. The interaction between tubes in the bundle is represented by fluidelastic coupling forces, which are defined in terms of the multi-degree-of-freedom elastodynamic behavior of each tube in the bundle. A laboratory test rig with an instrumented square bundle is constructed to measure the fluidelastic coefficients used to tune the developed dynamic model. The test rig admits two different test bundles; namely the inline-square and 45o rotated-square tube arrays. Measurements were conducted to identify the flow-induced dynamic coefficients. The developed scheme was utilized in predicting the onset of flow-induced vibrations, and results were examined in the light of TEMA predictions. The comparison demonstrated that TEMA guidelines are more conservative in the two configurations considered.