Analytical solution to governing equations of triple coupled physics of structural mechanics, diffusion, and heat transfer

Abstract

Transport pipes have been widely used for their several advantages including their cost-effectiveness and simplicity of installation. These pipes are constantly in contact with the flowing fluid and therefore pipe's material properties may degrade due to the diffusion of the fluid into the material system. These conditions are exacerbated as a result of high pressure and temperature of the transported fluid. Therefore, to simulate the behaviour of such pipes, three interactive phenomena of mechanical stress, heat transfer and mass diffusion need to be investigated. This study considers the three mechanisms simultaneously and provides an analytical solution to the corresponding coupled governing equations. The results of this work are in good agreement with the results of double coupled physics available in the literature and therefore can be used to predict the material behaviour under complicated environmental conditions.