The theory of a vibrating-rod densimeter

The paper presents a theory of a device for the accurate determination of the density of fluids over a wide range of thermodynamic states. The instrument is based upon the measurement of the characteristics of the resonance of a circular section tube, or rod, performing steady, transverse oscillations in the fluid. The theory developed accounts for the fluid motion external to the rod as well as the mechanical motion of the rod and is valid over a defined range of conditions. A complete set of working equations and corrections is obtained for the instrument which, together with the limits of the validity of the theory, prescribe the parameters of a practical design capable of high accuracy.Nomenclature A, B, C, D constants in equation (60) - A_j, B_j constants in equation (18) - a_j⁺, a_j^– wavenumbers given by equation (19) - C_f drag coefficient defined in equation (64) - C_f^/0, C_f^/1 components of C_f in series expansion in powers of - c speed of sound - D_b drag force of fluid b - D₀ coefficient of internal damping - E extensional modulus - force per unit length - F_j⁺, F_j^– constants in equation (24) - f, g functions of defined in equations (56) - G modulus of rigidity - I second moment of area - K constant in equation (90) - k, k constants defined in equations (9) - L half-length of oscillator - Ma Mach number - m_a mass per unit length of fluid a - m_b added mass per unit length of fluid b - m_s mass per unit length of solid - n_j eigenvalue defined in equation (17) - P power (energy per cycle) - P_a, P_b power in fluids a and b - p pressure - R radius of rod or outer radius of tube - R_c radius of container - R_i inner radius of tube - r radial coordinate - T tension - T_visc temperature rise due to heat generation by viscous dissipation - t time - v_r, v radial and angular velocity components - y lateral displacement - z axial coordinate - dimensionless tension - _a dimensionless mass of fluid a - _b dimensionless added mass of fluid b - _b dimensionless drag of fluid b - dimensionless parameter associated with - ₀ dimensionless coefficient of internal damping - dimensionless half-width of resonance curve - dimensionless frequency difference defined in equation (87) - spatial resolution of amplitude - R, , , _s, increments in R, , , _s, - dimensionless amplitude of oscillation - dimensionless axial coordinate - ratio of to - _a, _b ratios of to for fluids a and b - angular coordinate - parameter arising from distortion of initially plane cross-sections - _f thermal conductivity of fluid - dimensionless parameter associated with - viscosity of fluid - _a, _b viscosity of fluids a and b - dimensionless displacement - _j jth component of - density of fluid - _a, _b density of fluids a and b - _s density of tube or rod material - density of fluid calculated on assumption that * - dimensionless radial coordinate - * dimensionless radius of container - dimensionless times - _rrrr, _r radial normal and shear stress components - spatial component of defined in equation (13) - _j jth component of - dimensionless streamfunction - ⁰, ¹ components of in series expansion in powers of - phase angle - _r phase difference - _ra, _rb phase difference for fluids a and b - streamfunction - _j jth component defined in equation (22) - dimensionless frequency (based on ) - _a, _b dimensionless frequency in fluids a and b - _s dimensionless frequency (based on _s) - angular frequency - ₀ resonant frequency in absence of fluid and internal damping - _r resonant frequency in absence of internal fluid - _ra, _rb resonant frequencies in fluids a and b - dimensionless frequency - dimensionless frequency when _a vanishes - dimensionless frequencies when _a vanishes in fluids a and b - dimensionless resonant frequency when _a, _b, _b and ₀ vanish - dimensionless resonant frequency when _a, _b and _b vanish - dimensionless resonant frequency when _b and _b vanish - dimensionless frequencies at which amplitude is half that at resonance