Vibration frequency and lock-in bandwidth of tensioned, flexible cylinders experiencing vortex shedding

In-water vortex-induced vibration (VIV) tests of top-tensioned, flexible cylindrical structures were conducted at Shell Westhollow Technology Center current tank. These tests revealed that the top tension and structural stiffness (both lateral and axial) can have a significant impact on vibration frequencies. During lock-in between the vortex-shedding frequency and the structure's natural frequency, the increase of the vibration frequency with flow speeds is strongly related to the rise of the axial tension. After an initial abrupt rise, the vibration frequency of a bending-stiffness-dominated structure only increased slightly during lock-in. Alternative explanations are provided on why the vibration frequency does not rise significantly but there can still exist a broad lock-in band, and why a more massive structure has a narrower lock-in bandwidth. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.