Experimental Comparisons to Assure the Similarity Between VIM (Vortex-Induced Motion) and VIV (Vortex-Induced Vibration) Phenomena

Abstract

Vortex-Induced Motion (VIM) is another way to denominate the Vortex-Induced Vibration (VIV) in floating units. The main characteristics of VIM in such structures are the low aspect ratio (L/D < 4.0) and the unity mass ratio (m* = 1.0, i.e. structural mass equal water displacement). The VIM can occur in MPSO (Monocolumn Production, Storage and Offloading System) and spar platforms. These platforms can experience motion amplitudes of around their characteristic diameters. In such cases, the fatigue life of mooring and riser systems can be greatly reduced. Typically, the VIM model testing campaigns are carried out in the Reynolds range between 200,000 and 400,000. VIV model tests with low aspect ratio cylinders (L/D = 1.0, 1.7 and 2.0) and unity mass ratio (m* = 1.0) have been carried out at the Circulating Water Channel facility available at NDF/EPUSP. The Reynolds number range covered in the experiments was between 10,000 and 50,000. The characteristic motions (in the transverse and in-line direction) were obtained using the Hilbert-Huang Transform method (HHT) and then compared with results obtained in experiments found in the literature. The aim of this investigation is to definitely establish the similarity between the VIM and VIV phenomena, making possible to increase the understanding of both and, at same time, allowing some analytical models developed for VIV to be applied to the VIM scenario on spar and monocolumn platforms, logically under some adaption.