Pulse Propagation in Fluid-Filled Elastic Curved Tubes

65 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1980.The propagation of fluid transients through elbows in pipes is an important consideration in the safety analysis of nuclear piping systems. In this study, one-dimensional governing equations for the propagation of pressure pulses in an inviscid compressible fluid contained in a thin-walled naturally curved elastic tube is formulated. The method of characteristics is used to solve the pulse propagation problems. A second-order-accurate integration scheme is employed. Classical waterhammer results for a fluid-filled elastic tube are used as a check on the solutions, where appropriate.An experimental arrangement for pulse studies is described and experimental results are compared with numerical results from the method of characteristics. Finally, pertinent conclusions regarding the applicability of the governing equations are drawn.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD