A Comprehensive Review of Numerical Simulations on Vortex-Induced Vibration Response Characteristics of Deep-Sea Risers

As core structural components for deep-sea oil and gas exploitation, deep-sea risers are continuously subjected to wind, wave, and current loads, which readily induce vortex-induced vibration (VIV) and further trigger structural fatigue damage. Furthermore, the progressive exploitation of deepwater and ultra-deepwater oil and gas resources has exacerbated the complexity and risk of riser VIV, rendering it a critical engineering problem that urgently requires effective solutions. This paper presents a comprehensive review of numerical studies on deep-sea riser VIV, systematically elaborating the fundamental principles, research advances, and application scenarios of three mainstream numerical approaches: semi-empirical models, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models, and computational structural dynamics (CSD) models. The respective accuracy advantages and inherent limitations of each numerical method are thoroughly analyzed. Additionally, this review focuses on key research hotspots and challenging issues, including VIV responses of flexible risers, dynamic fluid–structure boundary coupling, internal–external flow coupling effects, wake interference of multi-riser systems, efficient VIV prediction, and vibration suppression optimization. The current technical bottlenecks in existing research are clarified. This study aims to provide a systematic theoretical framework and methodological reference for subsequent numerical investigations and engineering applications of riser VIV, and offer technical support for the optimal structural design and safety risk prevention of deep-sea riser systems.