Experimental Study on Vortex-Induced Vibration Coupling Wake Interference of Multi-Riser Groups with Sensitive Spacing

The riser group-fluid between risers is taken as the carrier, and the experiment on vortex-induced vibration of tandem riser groups coupling interference effect under sensitive spacing is performed. The least-square method is used to linearly fit the reduced velocity and main frequency, and the rule of Strouhal numbers is analyzed. Each mode is separated based on the mode decomposition theory, and the mode conversion mechanism is also explored. The concept of interference efficiency is introduced to study the dynamic characteristics and response evolutions of different riser groups. The results show that the wake shielding effect widely exists in tandem riser groups, and the interference effect of midstream and downstream risers on their upstream risers is significantly lower than that of upstream risers on midstream and downstream risers. The trajectories of midstream and downstream risers lag behind their upstream risers due to multiple shadowing effects, the vibration frequency range of downstream riser is widened and the dominant frequency is extremely unstable. Compared with the isolated riser, wake interference suppresses the vibration displacement of the midstream and downstream risers in the in-line direction, and enhances the displacement of upstream and midstream risers in the cross-flow direction. The interference effect of the fluid between risers at low velocities is stronger than that at higher velocities, and the cross-flow displacements of upstream risers are always in the interference enhancement region. It is urgent to pay attention to the cross-flow displacement of upstream and midstream risers in tandem riser groups considering the safety design.

Automated summary

This study experimentally investigates the interference effect of vortex-induced vibration on tandem riser groups under sensitive spacing. It is found that the wake shielding effect is widely present in tandem riser groups, and the interference effect of midstream and downstream risers on their upstream risers is significantly lower than that of upstream risers on midstream and downstream risers. The study also reveals the presence of multiple modes and mode conversion mechanism in the riser groups.