Pulse Propagation in Fluid-Filled Elastic Curved Tubes

The propagation of fluid transients through elbows is studied. A set of one-dimensional governing equations for the propagation of pressure pulses in an inviscid compressible fluid contained in a thin-walled naturally curved elastic tube is formulated and solved by two different techniques. For continuous waves, reflection and transmission coefficients for elbows are determined numerically by considering periodic waves in an assemblage of straight and curved tubes. For pulse propagation, the method of characteristics is employed to solve the assemblage problem. An experimental arrangement for pulse studies is described and experimental results are compared with numerical results from the method of characteristics.