Experimental Study of VIV Characteristics of Free Hanging PVC Pipe under Forced Oscillation Conditions

Abstract

A series of model tests was carried out to investigate the vortex-induced vibration (VIV) characteristics of a free hanging PVC pipe under forced oscillation conditions. The prescribed displacement with a period and amplitude was forced at the top of the riser. The motion of the riser along its length was measured with underwater cameras in three dimensions. The top-excited responses in the inline direction and vortex-induced vibration in the cross-flow direction were examined in the time and frequency domains. Multi-peak frequencies in the VIV were demonstrated to be strongly dependent upon the Keulegan-Carpenter number, corresponding with the results of Blevin. It was found that the Reynolds numbers (excitation period) was a critical parameter for the dominant VIV characteristics, even under the condition of using the same Keulegan-Carpenter number, under the top-excited condition. In the resonance at the nth natural frequency by the forced-motion induced VIV frequency, the riser responded with a large amplitude and forced frequency, dominantly in the VIV CF direction.

Keywords

• VIV(Vortex-induced vibration) characteristics
• Experimental study
• Forced oscillation
• Environmental loads