Numerical investigation into the energy harvesting efficiency from the vortex-induced vibration phenomenon using phenomenological models

• Grant number: 14/19629-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2015
• End date: June 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Naval and Oceanic Engineering - Hydrodynamics of Ships and Ocean Systems
• Principal Investigator: Guilherme Rosa Franzini
• Grantee: Alexandre Ravagnani
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Vortex-induced vibrations phenomenon (VIV) is very complex and may play an important role in risers dynamics. Due to its complexity, VIV can be investigated three complementary approaches, namely: experimental analysis, computational fluid dynamics and phenomenological model, focus of this research project. The phenomenological models consist, in general, on representing the dynamics of wake by means of a nonlinear oscillator (typically a van de Pol one) coupled to a representative oscillator of the structure. The coefficients of the nonlinear oscillator must be obtained through an experimental calibration. However, many of the phenomenological models described in the literature do not consider the dependence on coefficients with the reduced velocity. Additionally, VIV has been recently investigated as a source of renewable energy. The objective of this research plan is to program a numerical simulator that uses a phenomenological model for simulation of VIV, and considering the variation of some parameters with the reduced velocity, to discuss the efficiency of the energy harvesting.