Sea Test and Numerical Simulations on the Vortex Induced Vibration of the Unbonded Composite Riser

With the development of offshore oil and gas technology, the development activities have moved into deeper waters. More challenges are posed by the increasingly complex in the real applications that facing a more adverse environment with more complicated structures adopted. All these results in the pursuit of qualified deeper and lighter alternatives of the steel riser. In this research, a sea test study of the unbonded composite riser is performed. The objective of this research is to investigate the feasibility and stability of the tested riser that under the effect of VIV. Details of the sea test implementation are described. Analysis and discussions focus on the structural mechanical characteristics and dynamic responses are demonstrated. Furthermore, the numerical simulation of the riser is conducted as well. A numerical simulation model is built in OrcaFlex with both static and dynamic analyses are calculated. Finally, more insights for the further development of numerical model are provided through the comparison between the full–scale experimental results and the numerical results.