Determination of Hydrodynamic Excitations Generated by Two-Phase Water-Vapor Flow in a 90-Degree Elbow Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analysis

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Andrei Cristian COTOBAN
Dan ION
Polidor BRATU

Abstract

Two-phase flow is a major source of flow-induced vibrations (FIV) in pipeline systems, especially when the hydrodynamic fluctuations generated by the fluid contain frequencies close to the natural frequencies of the structure. Under these conditions, the dynamic response of the pipeline can be amplified, with effects on displacements, stresses, and fatigue behavior. This paper analyzes the already formed two-phase water-vapor flow in a 90-degree elbow, resulting from a pressure drop in a system conveying water at a temperature of 151°C and a pressure of 5.7 bar (a). The flow was numerically simulated in OpenFOAM using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method to model the water-vapor phases. The hydrodynamic forces exerted on the elbow wall were extracted from the transient simulation and analyzed in the time domain to identify the dominant components of the excitation. The forces obtained from the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis were subsequently used as input data in a unidirectional fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis by inputting them in the form of a time history. Thus, the dynamic response of the pipe in the elbow region and its vicinity was evaluated in terms of displacements caused by hydrodynamic excitations. The results show that the CFD-FSI approach allows for the preliminary identification of the effect of two-phase flow on pipeline vibrations and can be used as a basis for further analyses regarding dynamic stresses, accelerations, and fatigue risk.


 

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How to Cite
[1]
2026. Determination of Hydrodynamic Excitations Generated by Two-Phase Water-Vapor Flow in a 90-Degree Elbow Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analysis. Romanian Journal of Acoustics and Vibration. 23, 1 (Jun. 2026), 119–130.
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How to Cite

[1]
2026. Determination of Hydrodynamic Excitations Generated by Two-Phase Water-Vapor Flow in a 90-Degree Elbow Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analysis. Romanian Journal of Acoustics and Vibration. 23, 1 (Jun. 2026), 119–130.

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