Numerical Simulation of Stirrer Oscillations in Consideration of Fluid-Structure-Interaction and Flexible Restraint Systems

Stirrers are subjected to severe damages when the rotational speed n approaches the critical rotational speed n_krit (eigenfrequency). Appearing resonant vibrations result in huge stirrer shaft bending deformations and possible stirrer damages (see Figure 1). The possibilities of an accurate stirrer design (regarding the shaft vibrations) with analytical calculations [Fischer and Strohmeier (2000)] are often very unsatisfactional: The fluid dynamic effects on the structure and the real, often flexible, restraint systems cannot be considered. Both aspects, however, have an important influence, both on the critical rotational speed n_krit, and the oscillation amplitudes of the stirrer. As a method of solution, a fully coupled interaction of flow field and structural dynamic response of the stirrer is implemented in a commercial CFD-Code. The simulated results are compared to experimental data and show good agreement.