3D numerical simulation of laminar water hammer considering pipe wall viscoelasticity and the arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian method

Abstract

PurposeAnalysis of fast transient flow in water pipe systems is an important issue for the prevention of unfavorable pressure oscillations and severe damage to the pipelines. This paper aims to present the performance of three-dimensional (3D) simulation of laminar water hammer caused by fast closure of valve.Design/methodology/approachThe viscoelastic behavior of pipe wall is mathematically modeled by using the rheological model of Maxwell. The arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) method is also used to simulate fluid–structure interaction. In this method, unlike the classical water hammer theory, the acoustic wave velocity is calculated during the numerical simulations and therefore it is not predetermined.FindingsInvestigating the velocity profiles and the shear stress diagrams for transient flow in elastic pipe showed that the strong effect of viscous forces on the near wall region in conjunction with the influence of inertial forces in the central region of the pipe leads to creation of reverse flow near the pipe wall. Comparing the numerical results obtained for elastic pipe with those of viscoelastic pipe revealed that during transient condition, the viscoelastic wall absorbs the energy of fluid and therefore pressure fluctuations of viscoelastic pipe are damped more quickly. Moreover, the 3D simulation of water hammer confirmed the plane wave hypothesis of water hammer.Originality/valueThe 3D Navier–Stokes equations are solved considering the viscoelasticity of the pipe and the ALE method using the software package of COMSOL Multiphysics.