Numerical analysis of stability of a stationary or rotating circular cylindrical shell containing axially flowing and rotating fluid

The stability of stationary or rotating cylindrical shells interacting with a rotating internal fluid flow is studied. The paper presents the results of the finite element solutions for shells having different linear dimensions and subjected to various boundary conditions. It has been found that the form of stability loss in the stationary and rotating shells under the action of the fluid flow, having both the axial and circumferential components, depends on the type of the boundary conditions specified at their ends. It has been shown that for different variants of boundary conditions and different geometrical dimensions rotation of the fluid in a stationary shell or co-rotation of the shell and the fluid may increase or decrease the critical velocity of the axial fluid flow.

► Stability of a cylindrical shell containing a combined fluid flow is studied using FEM.
► Dynamic behavior of the system depends on boundary conditions and linear dimensions.
► Axial velocity of the fluid flow always results in a loss of stability.