Experimental Study on Vibration of a Rotating Pipe in Still Water and in Flow

Abstract To illustrate the vibration characteristics of a rotating pipe in flow, experiments were conducted for a pipe in flow, a rotating pipe in still water and a rotating pipe in flow. For the pipe in flow without rotation, the trajectory diagram is ‘8’ shaped. For the rotating pipe in still water, a multiple frequency component was induced, and a ‘positive direction whirl’ was found. For the flow and rotation, at a flow velocity of 0.46 m/s, the vibration is dominated by the combination of flow and rotation. With an increase in rotating frequency, the trajectory of the rotating pipe varies from an ‘8’ shape to a circular shape and the ‘reverse direction whirl’ is induced, which is different from ‘positive direction’ in still water. The vibration frequency ratio increases uniformly with flow velocity. At a flow velocity of 1.02 m/s, at which the frequency is close to the theoretical natural frequency, the vibration frequency ratio is f*≈1. Predominantly governed by vortex-induced vibration (VIV), the vibration behavior of a rotating pipe subjected to fluid flow conditions has been found to exhibit complete vanishing of whirl. The vibration characteristics of a rotating pipe in flow are studied by the experiments which is benefit for structural drilling design.