Stability of a Rotating Thin Elastic Tube Containing a Fluid Flow

Abstract

Abstract The stability of an infinitely long circular tube containing an inviscid incompressible fluid flow, both rotating at a constant angular velocity, is studied within the framework of the linear theory of elasticity. The result shows that rotation causes an empty tube to become unstable, and enhances the instability of a tube containing a flowing fluid. The effects of rotation on the most unstable mode and frequency are examined by considering a numerical example with water flowing through a rubber tube.