Flow-Induced Transverse Motions of a Flexible Cable Aligned with the Flow Direction

Experimental studies of the motions induced in a long, flexible cable by axial flows have been conducted in a large, blowdown water channel. A cable with a diameter of 1.59cm and a length of 9m was employed. Experiments were conducted over a fluid velocity range of 4.6 to 9.1 m/s. Both free and fixed downstream terminations of the cable were utilized, the former simulating a towed cable and the latter a mooring cable. Measurements of the drag coefficient of the cable were also made and compared with previously made predictions.