Numerical Analysis of Current-Induced Local Scour Under a Vibrating Pipeline

Abstract

The dynamic interaction between the pipeline vibration and the local scour is investigated numerically. The RNG k-e turbulence model and a sediment scour model are adopted to calculate the local scour below the vibrating pipeline. The vibrating pipeline is fully coupled with the fluid flow. The present numerical model is verified with the previous experimental results and shows good agreement. The coupling effects between the pipeline vibration and local scour are investigated numerically. The numerical results reveal that the maximum scour depth and the shape and scale of the scour hole are closely related to the amplitude of pipeline vibration. The vortices that shed behind the pipeline are influenced by the scour profile. The amplitude of pipeline vibration is influenced by the changes of scour depth.