TRANSVERSE VIBRATIONS OF BELLOWS EXPANSION JOINTS - PART-I - FLUID ADDED-MASS

This paper presents the results of an analysis of the fluid-added mass in bellows expansion joints during bending vibrations. The added mass is shown to consist of two parts, one due to transverse rigid-body mo tion and the other due to distortion of the convolutions during bendin g. The latter component, neglected in previous analyses, is shown to b e important for relatively short bellows, as are commonly used for exp ansion joints, and to become increasingly important for higher vibrati on modes. The distortion component has been determined using finite el ement analysis, and the results are presented in a graphical form for a typical range of bellows geometries. The total added mass is given i n a form suitable for hand calculations. (C) 1998 Academic Press.