Vibration Analysis of Multi-Branch Hydraulic Pipeline System Considering Fluid—Structure Interaction

A multi-branch pipeline is a typical structure, which is widely used in aerospace, marine and other hydraulic systems. The multi-branch pipeline suffers serious vibration from fluid–structure interaction, which can cause vibration failures in the pipeline system through overload in engineering fields. Vibrational analysis of the multi-branch pipeline system is increasing as part of the design of hydraulic system. In this paper, the finite element model of a multi-branch pipeline considering fluid—structure interaction is established, and the effectiveness of the modeling is validated through a comparison of the modal test for a typical four-way pipeline. The effects of the flow rate, pressure, fluid medium, pipe diameter, elastic constraint stiffness, and pipeline length and wall thickness on the dynamic characteristics of pipeline system are all considered. The obtained results indicate that the multi-branch junction suffering from significant vortex fluid is the main cause of fluid-induced vibration of the pipeline system. The fluid and structural parameters have great influence on the vibration characteristics of the pipeline, which can serve as an efficient tool in the design and maintenance of multi-branch hydraulic pipeline systems.