Dynamics of a pipe aspirating fluid such as might be used in ocean mining

An investigation into the dynamics and stability of a long, vertically disposed, cantilevered pipe, submerged in and aspirating fluid from the free lower end, and conveying it upwards to the supported upper end; the pipe has a large mass attached to its free end. The arrangement represents an idealization of an ocean mining system. This paper reports on the first phase of this work, in which the following simplifications have been made: (i) the pipe is straight at equilibrium; (ii) the effects of marine currents and wave action are not considered.