Laboratory Investigation of Helical Strakes With Serrated and Twisted Fins to Suppress VIV

Slender offshore structures of a cylindrical cross section, such as drilling and production risers, are susceptible to vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) when exposed to water currents. The present work presents an experimental investigation of the suppression of VIV of a circular cylinder by means of three different types of helical strakes: (i) a strake with continuous blades, (ii) a strake with serrated blades (or fins) and (iii) a strake with serrated blades individually twisted in relation to the incoming flow. By altering the blade geometry to produce the twisted-bladed strake, it was possible to keep the same level of suppression of the cross-flow vibration achieved by conventional strakes, but reducing drag in 15%. Experiments have been conducted in a recirculating water channel at moderate Reynolds numbers.