Application of Inertial Measurement Units in Vortex-induced Vibration Monitoring of Flexible Structures

This study explores the use of Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) to monitor Vortex-induced Vibration (VIV) in flexible structures, with a focus on a vertical flexible cylinder. IMUs were strategically placed along a silicone hose filled with steel microspheres, representing a reduced-scale model of a flexible riser. The tests carried out in a water channel at the Federal University of Santa Catarina involved IMU data processing techniques, such as Kalman filtering, quaternion rotation, and spectral analysis. The results, validated against an optical tracking system, provided insights into VIV frequencies, amplitudes, and excited modes. This research underscores the potential of IMUs in VIV monitoring and suggests future directions for research in this domain.