13.3.3.

6 Computational fluid dynamics model

The computational fluid mechanics approach has reached an advanced enough
level such that it is now being utilized to simulate many complex flows. This level
of development has encouraged many researchers to explore the CFD approach
to allow for a reliable prediction of the FEI threshold. Two strategies have been
pursued: utilizing the CFD to obtain important parameters for the theoretical
models, and using coupled fluid/structure simulations. The first strategy involves
modeling the tube array with one or more tubes which are forced to either move
to a static position or to undergo a prescribed periodic oscillation. Hassan et al.
(2011) utilized the latter to extract a number of fluid force coefficients which were
then utilized in an unsteady flow model to predict the stability threshold. Utilizing
the developed unsteady model, the pitch to diameter ratio and the Reynolds
Number effects on critical velocity were investigated. Khalifa et al. (2013) and El
Bouzidi and Hassan (2015) developed numerical techniques to study the flow
perturbations and time lag in tube bundles. The obtained time lag was utilized in
the semianalytical model of Lever and Weaver (1986) to predict the reduced
critical velocity. Anderson et al. (2014) developed a model to account for
temporal variations in the flow separation for inline arrays, in which numerical
simulations in the separation zone were coupled with a structural model and a far
field flow model to obtain the stability threshold.