Modeling of vortex induced vibrations, by means of chains of synchronizing oscillators

Modeling of vortex induced vibrations, by means of chains of synchronizing oscillators

© @ULiège

My work focuses on vortex-induced vibrations (VIV)—oscillations that occur when swirling vortices in a fluid synchronize with the motion of a structure. This effect can cause large movements, leading to fatigue, serviceability problems, or even failure of structures. While traditional VIV models assume simplified, two-dimensional flows, real structures experience turbulence, three-dimensional effects, and geometric variations that strongly change their behavior. This mismatch is visible in several structures for which VIV was strongly under- or over-estimated.

To reduce this gap, I develop mathematical models that aim to better represent how structures actually respond to fluid flows. These models are validated against experimental data and designed to be useful for both researchers and practicing engineers.

A central part of this effort is VIVyD, an open-source Python framework that gathers VIV models, simulation tools, datasets, and analysis methods into one consistent platform. By making modeling transparent, comparable, and reproducible, this tool helps connect theory, experiments, and real-world design in a practical and accessible way.