Modelling of Viscoelastic Dynamic Bending Stiffness for VIV Analysis of Submarine Cables

During cable installation, free spans can occur in areas with uneven seabed. In combination with current and waves there is a risk that Vortex Induced Vibrations (VIV) are introduced in the cable span. VIV can cause wear and fatigue on the cable's weak components such as the lead sheath. This paper proposes a method to assess VIV that utilises the cables hysteretic behaviour with high damping. A numerical model for calculation of the dynamic bending stiffness of a submarine cable with bitumen coated armour wires is also presented.