Numerical simulation of vortex-induced vibration of a smooth circular cylinder at the subcritical regime

Abstract

The present paper focuses on the simulation of vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of a rigid, smooth circular cylinder with elastic supports subject to a cross-flow at the subcritical regime of Reynolds number, 30,000< Re<80,000. The circular cylinder is allowed to move in one degree-of-freedom (DOF), heave. Unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations are solved with Menter’s k — [Formula: see text] based Shear Stress Transport based Scale-Adaptive Simulation, SAS-SST, turbulence model, and two-equation transition transport γ — θ model. The transport equations are discretized using the Finite Volume Method (FVM). The numerical amplitude and frequency ratio is compared against the experiments conducted in the Marine Renewable Energy Laboratory (MRELab) at the University of Michigan. The angle in which the computed lift leads the displacement in VIV is compared against experimental results reported by Cornell-ONR Water Channel as well. The existence of the initial, upper, and lower VIV response branches is demonstrated. Wake vortex pattern mode has been studied in the different branches of VIV. The time records of the added mass force coefficient and the vortex force coefficient are obtained. Then, the time-averaged phase angle of the vortex and added mass force coefficients are compared against the experimental results. Lastly, the time records of the phase angle in different branches of VIV are shown and analyzed.