Comparison of Wake Oscillator Models to Predict Vortex-Induced Vibration of Tall Chimneys

A comparative study has been carried out for tapered chimney considering various wake oscillator models available in the literature. These models are Facchinetti, Farshidian and Dolatabadi and Skop and Griffin. Tip displacement of 210m tall, tapered chimney is evaluated. The structure is analyzed using the stated models in first mode oscillation, and their results are compared with Eurocode method-I response. The nonlinear approach is adopted for analyzing wake oscillator models where the solution of the coupled equation is assumed to be non-harmonic, unlike the analytical models, and is solved using the ODE solver of MATLAB. The nonlinear method is then compared with the analytical solution proposed by the mentioned models, confirming that the nonlinear approach should be chosen for analyzing the lightly damped slender structures. It is observed that except for the models proposed by Farshidian and Dolatabadi, other models predict nearly the same responses. The parameters causing the variation among the models are also discussed.