Vortex-induced vibrations and control of marine risers: A review

This paper reviews the dynamics and vibration control techniques for marine riser systems. The riser pipes are modeled as Euler-Bernoulli beams that vibrate under the effects of ocean loads and the movements of the surface vessel, resulting in hybrid ODE-PDE equations. Chronological development of such hybrid models is first discussed, and their approximated ODE models for simulation are examined. Theoretical and experimental techniques for instability and fatigue analyses on the riser systems are also summarized. To increase the fatigue life against ocean currents, passive vibration suppression devices (e.g., strakes and spoilers) were mounted on the surface of the riser. Whereas to tackle the instability problem caused by sea waves, active control techniques utilizing the movements of the vessel were employed. In Conclusions, as future riser technologies, seven research issues are identified.