Comparison of Calculated In-Line Vortex Induced Vibrations to Model Tests

Abstract

The purpose of the present paper is to compare vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) in both in-line and cross-flow directions calculated by a semi-empirical computer program to experimental data. The experiments used are the Bearman and Chaplin experiments in which a model of a tensioned riser is partly exposed to current and partly in still water. The VIVANA program is a semi-empirical frequency domain program based on the finite element method. The program was developed by MARINTEK and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) to predict cross-flow response due to VIV. The fluid-structure interaction in VIVANA is described using added mass, excitation and damping coefficients. Later, curves for excitation, added mass and damping for pure in-line VIV response were added. These curves are valid for low current levels, before the onset of cross-flow VIV response. Recently, calculation of response from simultaneous cross-flow and in-line excitation has been included in VIVANA. The in-line response frequency is fixed at twice the cross-flow response frequency and the in-line added mass is adjusted so that this frequency becomes an eigenfrequency. A set of curves based on forces measured during combined cross-flow and inline motions are used. At present, the in-line excitation curves are not dependent on the cross-flow response amplitude. In the paper, in-line and cross-flow response predicted by VIVANA will be compared to the Bearman and Chaplin model tests. The choice of added mass and excitation coefficients will be discussed.