Chaotic Vibration in Fluid-Stiffness-Controlled Instability of a Tube Row in Crossflow

Abstract

The fluid-elastic instability of tube arrays in heat exchangers may become chaotic, especially when clearances exist between tubes and supports. When chaotic motion appears in tube arrays, significant sliding between the tubes and supports may be induced. An analytical model, consisting of a row of rigid tubes with three tubes supported by springs, is presented. Bifurcation diagrams, Poincaré maps, power spectral densities, and tube orbits are used to investigate the conditions under which the unpredictable motion can arise. The emphasis is on fluid-stiffness-controlled instability.