Abstract
Tube bundles, which are commonly found in heat exchangers of industrial plant, can be monitored by transmission of ultrasonic signals. This paper presents a model for oblique sound transmission through tube bundles; it extends existing two-dimensional models to three dimensions. The tubes are modelled as flexible cylindrical shells which are filled with a fluid and immersed in another fluid. They are arranged periodically and this leads to grating effects (scattering of a plane wave in discrete directions) and to passing and stopping bands (frequency bands with high and low transmission). Two new effects, not found for perpendicular sound transmission, are discovered. The ‘projection effect’ shifts features in the transmission spectrum to higher frequencies. The ‘coincidence effect’ occurs if the free bending wavelength of the tubes matches the trace wavelength in the outer fluid and can lead to a dramatic reduction of the transmission. Comparison of theoretical predictions and experimental results is given. The model makes useful predictions for the design and operation of ultrasonic monitoring systems for tube bundles; it can, for example, recommend optimal transmission angles and frequency ranges.
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