Fluidelastic Vibration of Heat Exchanger Tube Arrays

A basic fluidelastic excitation mechanism, of a type reported in an earlier paper, causes large whirling vibrations of tubes in model arrays when the flow velocity exceeds a critical value. The critical velocity is U = βf_nD$moδn/ρoD2$ where β, the threshold instability constant is a function of the tube pattern and spacing. Threshold instability constants are given that were obtained from wind tunnel and water tunnel tests on multirow tube arrays in uniform cross flow. Test results are discussed that demonstrate the effects of spanwise variations in flow velocity on fluidelastic whirling for both straight tubes and U-tubes. Design methods are provided for predicting the onset of fluidelastic whirling of heat exchanger tubes on multiple supports when spanwise variations in the cross flow exist.