Stripwise discrete vortex method for VIV analysis of flexible risers

This paper presents a stripwise discrete vortex method (SDVM) to study the vortex-induced vibration of flexible risers. The discrete vortex method is employed to calculate the vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of each strip, and the finite volume method and increment method are used to compute the 3-D dynamics of the flexible riser. To verify the discrete vortex method for a single cylindrical strip of the entire flexible riser, a cylinder with elastic supports exerted by a 2-D uniform flow with a high Reynolds number is investigated. The 1-D transverse motion, 2-D transverse motion and 2-D stream-wise motion, as well as their influences on the wake shapes, are considered. Comparisons are made between the transverse amplitudes for the single degree of freedom and two degrees of freedom elastic-mounted systems. The relations between the lift coefficients and response amplitudes of the different mass ratios and reduced velocities are further discussed. The characteristics of the motion responses of the cylinder for different mass ratios and degree of freedoms are also discussed. Finally, the present numerical model is employed to calculate a 3-D flexible riser exerted by the uniform current, and the analysis of the numerical results shows the characteristics of the vortex-induced vibration of a flexible riser.