Abstract
Knowledge of the modal parameters of the guide vane is essential for evaluating the operating stability of pump-turbines. In the present investigation, experiments and simulations are designed to analyze the influence of submergence level and sidewall clearance on the vibration characteristics of a guide vane-like structure. The results show that the type of mode shape remains unchanged at different submergence levels, while the position of the node line (NL) demonstrates a slight shift. According to the angle of the NL and the free surface, the mode types are divided into parallel NL, vertical NL, and slanted NL modes. The added mass tends to increase with increasing submergence levels, while the slope of added mass in conjunction with the submergence level, is dependent on the mode type. In particular, in relation to the parallel NL mode, the slope is almost zero, if the free surface is close to the NL region; with regard to the slanted NL mode, the slope in the NL region is significantly smaller than that outside this region; in the case of the vertical NL mode, the slope remains approximately constant. The damping ratio increases with increasing submergence level for the vertical NL mode. While the damping ratios for the parallel and slanted NL modes are decreased if the free surface is close to the NL regions. In addition, as the side wall clearance increases, both the added mass and damping ratio tend to decrease.