Drag amplification of long flexible riser models undergoing multi-mode VIV in uniform currents

Measurement data of long flexible riser models are used to study the drag amplification due to multi-mode vortex induced vibration (VIV). The riser model was towed in a towing tank, and vibration along its length was measured indirectly at a set of discrete points using accelerometers, along with the total drag and lift forces on the model. These data were used to fit expressions for the drag amplification taking into account the spatial variation of the vibration amplitude along the riser length. The results were compared with the existing empirical expression used in the VIV analysis tool SHEAR7 as well as other test data. It was found that the expression in SHEAR7 agrees well with the test data. However, for larger vibration amplitudes, it appears to under-predict the drag amplification.