Structural Response of a Reciprocating Compressor's Discharge Tube Subjected to Model and Data Uncertainties

The analysis of the dynamical responses of compressor components are typically evaluated by using mathematical-mechanical models, and many decisions are given based on numerical simulations. Such an investigation is usually performed in a deterministic framework that cannot consider the uncertainties of the numerical model. These uncertainties are present in a numerical investigation due to the variability of the model parameters, caused by the limitations of the manufacturing processes, as well as simplifications and/or lack of knowledge to describe complex physical processes accurately. In order to quantify the sensitivity of the model parameters and the epistemic uncertainties of a discharge tube's structural numerical response-solved by the finite element method-two stochastic models are constructed, and their results are simultaneously analysed. The dynamical responses obtained from both stochastic models identify the robustness limits of the structural response when it is subjected to parameter uncertainties as well as model sensitivity by separating each contribution in the estimated dynamical structural response.