Vortex Shedding Induced Dynamic Response of Marine Risers

An analytical model to predict the dynamic response of a riser in regular waves or in current to vortex shedding-induced lift forces is described. The riser is treated as a continuous beam under tension. A modal superposition scheme is used to solve the linearized equation of motion in the frequency domain. The excitation lift force is represented by a harmonic function with a frequency equal to the dominant vortex shedding frequency. Empirical correlations are used to determine the lift coefficients and shedding frequencies along the riser. Lift amplification is considered at or near the “lock-in” conditions. The fluid resistance to riser oscillations is represented by a Morison’s equation-type expression.