Factors associated with support plate forces due to heat-exchanger tube vibratory contact

Abstract Studies have been made of several of the factors associated with the forces resulting from a heat-exchanger tube vibrating against its support plate. Finite element simulation results are compared with the behaviour of a cantilevered tube apparatus with two-dimensional sinusoidal excitation in air. The accuracy of the simulation technique is shown over a range of excitations. Simulations are then used to study the effects of varying the friction, damping, tube/annulus stiffness and clearance on the r.m.s. contact forces.