Multi-mode interactions in vortex-induced vibrations of flexible curved/straight structures with geometric nonlinearities

Abstract

A general low-order fluid–structure interaction model capable of evaluating the multi-mode interactions in vortex-induced vibrations of flexible curved/straight structures is presented. Cross-flow motions due to unsteady lift forces of inclined sagged cables and tensioned beams in uniform currents are investigated. In contrast to a linear equation governing the transverse motion of straight beams or cables typically considered in the literature, coupled horizontal/vertical (axial/transverse) displacements and geometric nonlinearities of curved cable (straight beam) are accounted for. A distributed nonlinear wake oscillator is considered in the approximation of space–time varying hydrodynamics. This semi-empirical fluid force model in general depends on the mass-damping parameter and has further been modified to capture both the effects of varying initial curvatures of the inclined cylinder and the Reynolds number. Numerical simulations are performed in the case of varying flow velocities and parametric results highlight several meaningful aspects of vortex-induced vibrations of long flexible cylinders. These comprise multi-mode lock-in, sharing, switching and interaction features in the space and time domains, the estimated maximum modal and total amplitudes, the resonant nonlinear modes of flexible cylinders and their space–time modifications, and the influence of fluid/structure parameters. A shortcoming of single-mode or linear structural model is underlined. Some quantitative and qualitative comparisons of numerical/experimental results are discussed to demonstrate the validity and required improvement of the proposed modelling and analysis predictions.