Transient Fluid-Structure Interaction in a Control Valve

Abstract

Numerical investigation on the interaction of a viscous incompressible fluid with a control valve is conducted by using the finite element method and Newmark approach. Variables including displacement, velocity, and acceleration are presented as a function of time to describe movements of the solid system. The velocity vectors, pressure variations, pressure loss coefficients, and energy losses are displayed to reveal the resulting flow fields. It is observed that the motion of the structural element which becomes a moving boundary had a significant influence on the flow fields. In a periodic inlet flow, the motion of the structural system and the resulting flow fields were almost identical for each cycle after the third cycle. The simulated results presented in this paper provide a good description of the induced flow field in a piping system under the effect of a pulsating piston or a wave.