Experimental Investigation of Multi-Mode Vortex-Induced Vibration of Flexible Risers with Different Mass Ratios

Experiments were conducted on risers with different mass ratios to study the effect of mode conversion and spanwise correlation. The slenderness ratio of the riser model was set as 169, and the Reynolds numbers are 1600–14400. The dynamic responses of riser models versus reduced velocity were analyzed, and the spanwise displacement, frequency, and trajectory of the mode conversion from the lower to the higher mode were explored. The results revealed that the riser model with a higher mass ratio excites a higher number of modes. The conversion region of multi-mode competition exists and narrows with the increasing mass ratio. Mode conversion is continuous and manifests as the transmission of peaks and troughs in mode shape: the peaks and troughs of mode shape move up in the mode stable development region and move down in the mode conversion region. The single-mode dominating vibration exhibits a standing wave feature, and the traveling wave feature is significant in the mode conversion region. Furthermore, the frequency jump is always transmitted from the trough to the peak of the mode shape, and finally, all the axial positions vibrate at the same frequency. The trajectory in the mode conversion region deviates from the 8-shape and recovers the standard 8-shape at the middle and late stages of the mode stable development region.