Vortex-induced vibration of a long flexible cylinder in uniform cross-flow

Abstract

Numerical simulations are performed of a long flexible cylinder undergoing vortex-induced vibration at a Reynolds number of 500. The cylinder is pinned at both ends, having an aspect ratio of 100 (cylinder length to cylinder diameter) and a mass ratio of 4.2 (structural mass to displaced fluid mass). Temporal and spatial information on the cross-flow (CF) and in-line (IL) vibrations is extracted. High modal vibrations up to the 6th in the CF direction and the 11th in the IL direction are observed. Both the CF and IL vibrations feature a multi-mode mixed pattern. Mode competition is observed. The 2nd mode with a low frequency dominates the IL vibration and its existence is attributed to a wave group propagating back and forth along the span. Distributions of fluid force coefficients are correlated to those of the CF and IL vibrations along the span. Histograms of the x-y motion phase difference are evaluated from the total simulation time and a complete vibration cycle representing the standing or travelling wave pattern. Correlations between the phase difference and the vibrations are discussed. Vortex structures behind the cylinder show an interwoven near-wake pattern when the standing wave pattern dominates, but an oblique near-wake pattern when the travelling wave pattern prevails.