Talebi - Ph.D. Student, Mechanical Engineering Department, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
Shirani - Professor Mechanical Engineering Department, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
Ashrafizadeh - Assistant professor Mechanical Engineering Department, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

Large eddy simulations of turbulent flow patterns in a tube array cross flow have been carried out. A parallel Large Eddy coupled Navier-Stokes solver has been developed to perform numerical simulations for such complicated geometries. A domain decomposition method is used to divide the computations and the MPI protocol is used for data communication between processors. The performance of the parallel solver is very high and shows the solver suitability for such transient flow simulation on fine grid. In this numerical study vortical flow structures and streamlines have been carefully examined and analyzed. In addition, lift and drag forces on different tubes, as well as their power spectra have been obtained and studied. Several interesting flow patterns are noticed and described in this paper. These results can be used to predict the flow induced vibration characteristics for tube array industrial applications and consequently, to improve their designs.

Tube Array – Flow Pattern – Large Eddy Simulation – Parallel Coupled Solver