Two-Dimensional Numerical Analysis on Vortex-Induced Vibrations of an Elastically Mounted Circular Cylinder Placed Very Close to a Wall

Abstract: Two-dimensional numerical simulations have been performed to understand the effect of wall proximity on the vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) of an elastically mounted circular cylinder having two degrees of freedom for gap ratios g/D = {0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4,0.5,0.6}, where D is the cylinder diameter, and g is the gap between the cylinder's bottom surface and the wall. Parametric simulations have been performed using a quasi-monolithic coupled fluid-structure interaction solver with exact interface tracking for Re = 100 and m*=10 over a range of U* to present the effect of the wall's proximity on the vibration response, vortex structures, force dynamics, pressure distribution, the phase between the hydrodynamic forces and displacements, and finally different VIV branching response regimes. The numerical simulations reveal that as the gap ratio reduces, the maximum transverse vibration amplitude reduces, and the lock-in region widens. Periodic vortex shedding with a single "S" vortex street has been observed for all gap ratios g/D = 0.1 to 0.6. It has also been observed that the wall proximity affects the mean lift coefficient not only in the lock-in region but also in the pre and post lock-in regions. In the lock-in region, the response dynamics of the vibrating cylinder can be characterized into two branches, with the transition between the branches marked by a sudden jump in the phase angle $\Phi$ between the lift and transverse displacement from 0 to a value slightly greater than $\pi$. As the gap ratio reduces, the widening of the lock-in region is accompanied by the widening of the IInd response branch and a narrowing down of the Ist response branch. For the gap ratio of g/D = 0.1, the Ist branch vanishes entirely. This work is directly relevant to the design, maintenance, and fatigue life estimation of underwater pipelines/cables laid on the seabed.