Large eddy simulation of fluctuating forces on a square pitched tube array and comparison with experiment

In this study, large eddy simulation (LES) technique is used to capture the turbulent buffeting forces for a square pitched tube bundle. A four tube calculation with a pitch-to-diameter ratio of 1.46 was simulated. The Smagorinsky model was utilized to present the subgrid scales. The power spectrum for the lift and drag coefficients have been compared to Chen & Jendrzejczyk data. Similar to the experiment, the LES lift spectrum shows a pronounced peak while the drag spectrum is relatively flat until the roll off. The average and fluctuating values of lift and drag forces on the tube are in reasonable agreement with experimental findings. The LES calculation predicts a larger peak in the spectrum and a shift in the spectrum to a larger Strouhal number. This may be attributed to the smaller pitch-to-diameter ratio (P/D = 1.46), as Chen & Jendrzejczyk used a P/D = 1.75.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Pressure Vessels and Piping Division (Publication) PVP

Large eddy simulation of fluctuating forces on a square pitched tube array and comparison with experiment Conference Paper