On the development of a nonlinear time-domain numerical method for describing vortex-induced vibration and wake interference of two cylinders using experimental results

A nonlinear mathematical model is developed in the time domain to simulate the behaviour of two identical flexibly mounted cylinders in tandem while undergoing vortex-induced vibration (VIV). Subsequently, the model is validated and modified against experimental results. Placing an array of bluff bodies in proximity frequently happens in different engineering fields. Chimney stacks, power transmission lines and oil production risers are few engineering structures that may be impacted by VIV. The coinciding of the vibration frequency with the structure natural frequency could have destructive consequences. The main objective of this study is to provide a symplectic and reliable model capable of capturing the wake interference phenomenon. This study shows the influence of the leading cylinder on the trailing body and attempts to capture the change in added mass and damping coefficients due to the upstream wake. The model is using two coupled equations to simulate the structural response and hydrodynamic force in each of cross-flow and stream-wise directions. Thus, four equations describe the fluid-structure interaction of each cylinder. A Duffing equation describes the structural motion, and the van der Pol wake oscillator defines the hydrodynamic force. The system of equations is solved analytically. Two modification terms are added to the excitation side of the Duffing equation to adjust the hydrodynamic force and incorporate the effect of upstream wake on the trailing cylinder. Both terms are functions of upstream shedding frequency (Strouhal number). Additionally, the added mass modification coefficient is a function of structural acceleration and the damping modification coefficient is a function of velocity. The modification coefficients values are determined by curve fitting to the difference between upstream and downstream wake forces, obtained from experiments. The damping modification coefficient is determined by optimizing the model against the same set of experiments. Values of the coefficients at seven different spacings are used to define a universal function of spacing for each modification coefficient so that they can be obtained for any given distance between two cylinders. The model is capable of capturing lock-in range and maximum amplitude

Effect of mass ratio on hydrodynamic response of a flexible cylinder

The effect of the mass ratio on the flow-induced vibration (FIV) of a flexible circular cylinder is experimentally investigated in a towing tank. A Tygon tube with outer and inner diameters of 7.9 mm and 4.8 mm, respectively, was employed for the study. The tube was connected to a carriage and towed from rest to a steady speed up to 1.6 m/s before slowing down to rest again over a distance of 1.6 m in still water. Reynolds number based on the cylinder’s outer diameter was 800–13,000, and the reduced velocity (velocity normalized by the cylinder’s natural frequency and outer diameter) spanned from 2 to 25. When connected, the cylinder was elongated from 420 mm to 460 mm under an axial pre-tension of 11 N. Based on the cylinder’s elongated length, the aspect ratio (ratio of the cylinder’s length to outer diameter) was calculated as 58. Three mass ratios (ratio of the cylinder’s structural mass to displaced fluid mass, m*) of 0.7, 1.0, and 3.4 were determined by filling the cylinder’s interior with air, water, and alloy powder (nickel-chromium-boron matrix alloy), respectively. An optical method was adopted for response measurements. Multi-frequency vibrations were observed in both in-line (IL) and cross-flow (CF) responses; at high Reynolds number, vibration modes up to the 3rd one were identified in the CF response. The mode transition was found to occur at a lower reduced velocity for the highest tested mass ratio. The vibration amplitude and frequency were quantified and expressed with respect to the reduced velocity. A significant reduced vibration amplitude was found in the IL response with increasing mass ratios, and only initial and upper branches existed in the IL and CF response amplitudes. The normalized response frequencies were revealed to linearly increase with respect to the reduced velocity, and slopes for linear relations were found to be identical for the three cases tested