Large-Eddy Simulation of Cross-Flow Induced Vibrations of a Single Flexible Tube in a Normal Square Tube Array

Abstract

The cross-flow induced vibrations in water of a single flexible tube in a normal square array of rigid tubes are investigated by means of large-eddy simulations, based on the classical Smagorinsky model. The flow configuration and the operating conditions are taken from the experiments of Granger et al. (J. Fluid Struct., 1993). A fully-coupled fluid-structure calculation is hence performed: the tube dynamics is modeled by a mass-spring-damper system, and the motion of the fluid domain is accounted for by a moving mesh technique. The numerical results are compared to the experimental data in terms of amplitude and frequency of the flexible tube oscillations, for various inflow velocities. In addition, characteristics of the flow-induced forces are discussed: features of the power spectral densities of lift and drag forces, such as the envelope spectrum or the spanwise correlation length are investigated.