Vortex-Excited Cross-Flow Vibrations of a Single Cylindrical Tube

Abstract

The cross-flow vibrations of a single tube are considered in this paper, for incident flows of air and water. Recent experimental measurements of the resonant response of and fluid dynamic forces on circular cylinders as a result of vortex shedding at subcritical Reynolds numbers are presented, and different approaches to measuring and characterizing the fluid forces are compared. Based upon these experiments, a mathematical model with which to describe the flow-induced excitation and reaction (damping) forces on a vibrating tube has been developed and is presented here. These results are applicable in general not only to the resonant, vortex-excited vibrations of flexibly mounted rigid tubes, but also to a flexible tube in air, water and other similar fluids.