Numerical simulation of tube-support impact forces in heat exchangers

Fretting wear of tubes due to flow induced vibration in the heat exchangers is one of the important factors which make heat exchangers failed. The tube-support impact force is one of the parameters which play a vital role in the prediction of tube fretting wear rate. In this paper, the finite element model is used for determination of the tube-support vibroimpact forces. The results of numerical simulation on a singlespan cantilevered tube for planar motion are compared with the experimental data. Test results are close to those of analytical results