Automatic tracing of the foot of the continental slope

The UNCLOS III (Article 76, Section 4(b)) defines the foot of the continental slope as the point of maximum change in the gradient at its base. It is impossible to locate so defined afoot and thus to trace the foot‐line objectively by eye. In this study we show a method designed automatically to detect and trace the foot‐line of the continental slope from an irregular array of bathymetrical data. Our algorithm first transforms the bathymetric surface to a maximum curvature surface. On this new surface, the foot‐line corresponds to one of the ridges; instead of tracing the foot‐line on the bathymetric surface, we now can trace the ridges on the maximum curvature surface. The tracing of the ridges can be done automatically and objectively and the foot‐line is identified as being one of these ridges. We devote particular attention to the case when the ridge‐line is not defined, i.e., to the case when the point of maximum gradient change becomes a region of maximum gradient change.     

Interaction of flexural gravity waves with shear current in shallow water

In the present study, the effect of shear current on the propagation of flexural gravity waves is analyzed under the assumptions of linearized shallow-water theory. Explicit expressions for the reflection and transmission coefficients associated with flexural gravity wave scattering by a step discontinuity in both water depth and current speed are derived. Further, trapping and scattering of flexural gravity waves by a jet-like shear current with a top-hat profile are examined and certain limiting conditions for the waves to exist are derived. The effects of change in water depth, current speed, incident wavelength and the angle of incidence on the group and phase velocities as well as on the reflection and transmission characteristics are analyzed through different numerical results.     

Distinct activity phases during the recent geologic history of a Gulf of Mexico mud volcano

Laser line scan imaging and chirp sub-bottom profiling were used to detail the morphology of a submarine mud volcano and brine-filled crater at 652 m water depth in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The mud volcano has a relief of 6 m and a basal diameter of about 80 m. The feature comprises a central, brine-filled crater (253 m²) surrounded by a continuous bed of methanotrophic mussels (Bathymodiolus childressi) covering 434 m² and a patchy bed covering an additional 214 m² of the periphery. The brine pool was mostly <2 m deep, but there were two holes of >28 m and 12 m deep, respectively at the northern end of the pool which emitted continual streams of small clear bubbles. Sub-bottom profiles indicated three distinct strata beneath the present surface of the mud volcano. Integration of 17 profiles shows that the mud volcano has been built in at least three successive stages: the lowest stage deposited 35,400 m³, while the middle and upper stages deposited 7700 and 20,400 m³, respectively. Piston cores were taken at the northern edge of the mussel bed and a site ∼100 m southwest of the pool. Mussel and lucinid shells were recovered from the closer core, lucinid shells from the distant core. A mussel shell from 3.4 m sub-bottom had a Δ¹⁴C age of 16.2 ka. Mixture of modern carbon with “carbon dead” reservoir material would produce actual ages ∼2 ka less than the radiocarbon ages.     

Application of Line Boundary Technique to 2D Tidal Current Simulation

To deal with the problems concerning the shore boundary,moving boundary and engineeringboundary which are encountered frequently in 2D tidal current simulation by the finite difference method,theconcept of line boundary is introduced and studied here,and then the line boundary technique in common useis proposed in this paper.Analysis of some calculation cases shows that this technique is practical,effective,and simple in 2D tidal current simulation involving different boundaries.     

法向承力锚拖曳安装过程的整体模拟

法向承力锚(Vertically Loaded Plate Anchor,VLA)是一种适用于深水的新型系泊基础,它的拖曳安装过程直接决定了其系泊定位的精度和锚体的最终承载能力。综合考虑VLA锚体、锚泊线和上部船体的运动,建立了一种新的准静力整体分析模型。模型包括不断贯入海床的锚体、锚泊线(土中反悬链段和水中悬链段)和安装船体三部分,针对确定的锚泊线长度,安装船运动张紧锚泊线进行安装的过程,计算了此过程中锚体的运动轨迹、锚泊线形态和作用在船体上的锚泊线张力矢量的变化,重点分析了不同抛链长度和海床土体的参数对安装过程控制的影响,发现链长与水深之比达到5时,接近极限贯入深度。     

A modified numerical calculation method of collapse pressure for thick-walled offshore pipelines

Considering the shear deformation and thickness stretching of large deformation, a modified numerical calculation method based on the thick shell theory is established to determine the collapse pressure of thick-walled pipes. Verification experiments are conducted on ten pipe specimens in hyperbaric chambers. The good agreement between experimental results and numerical predictions shows the validity and reliability of the new numerical calculation method. Combining DNV specification, the characteristic collapse pressure is also calculated for comparison. The difference between experimental results and DNV calculations illustrates the latter one is much conservative in predicting collapse pressure for thick-walled pipes. Sensitivity analysis on manufacturing imperfections and material properties is investigated for pipes with different D/t ratios. Thick-walled pipes are easier to be affected by initial ovality, residual stress and hardening factor. Based on the stress distribution at the moment of collapse, a novel discovery is found that the collapse pressure of thick-walled pipes is dominated by material plastic behavior.     

多尺度阵列嵌套组合反演宾川气枪源区横波速度结构

本文基于多尺度阵列嵌套组合的方式,利用频率-贝塞尔变换法（Frequency-Bessel,F-J方法）提取背景噪声面波频散信息,通过多个阵列融合的频散曲线反演得到宾川气枪发射台周边不同深度的横波速度结构.结果显示：浅层一阶面波频散信息的加入,使得基阶反演结果更加收敛,反演深度加深到8 km;深度在8 km以下的结构的研究利用多尺度阵列（密集台阵-宾川气枪台网-云南区域地震台网）嵌套组合的方式,面波基阶低频信息从0.55 Hz拓宽到0.008 Hz,使横波速度结构的反演深度显著增加,同时对反演过程提供约束,使得70 km深度以上的横波速度更收敛.由此本文所得的横波速度结构为该区地下结构的探测提供基础,多尺度阵列嵌套组合频散谱的研究方式也为以后区域结构的研究提供一种新的方法和思路.

     

导线覆冰大跨越输电塔-线体系动力特性分析

大跨越输电塔-线体系对导线覆冰等环境荷载反应敏感,容易发生动态倒塌破坏。目前对线路覆冰下输电塔的振动问题虽然取得了一定的研究成果,但是线路覆冰下输电塔的动力特性规律尚需进一步研究。本文以实际工程为例,建立了大跨越输电塔-线体系数值分析模型,分析了导线划分精度对输电塔-线体系动力特性的影响,并在此基础上分析了导线覆冰对输电塔-线体系动力特性的影响。研究结果表明：导线划分精度对输电塔振动影响较大;导线覆冰不仅影响输电塔振动频率,而且对输电塔振型也有较大影响,尤其是对输电塔横担的振动影响更大。     

Measurement and modeling of bed shear stress under solitary waves

Direct measurements of bed shear stresses (using a shear cell apparatus) generated by non-breaking solitary waves are presented. The measurements were carried out over a smooth bed in laminar and transitional flow regimes (~ 10⁴ < R_e < ~ 10⁵). Measurements were carried out where the wave height to water depth (h/d) ratio varied between 0.12 and 0.68; maximum near bed velocity varied between 0.16 m/s and 0.51 m/s and the maximum total shear stress (sum of skin shear stress and Froude–Krylov force) varied between 0.386 Pa and 2.06 Pa. The total stress is important in determining the stability of submarine sediment and in sheet flow regimes. Analytical modeling was carried out to predict total and skin shear stresses using convolution integration methods forced with the free stream velocity and incorporating a range of eddy viscosity models. Wave friction factors were estimated from skin shear stress at different instances over the wave (viz., time of maximum positive total shear stress, maximum skin shear stress and at the time of maximum velocity) using both the maximum velocity and the instantaneous velocity at that phase of the wave cycle. Similarly, force coefficients obtained from total stress were estimated at time of maximum positive and negative total stress and at maximum velocity. Maximum positive total shear stress was approximately 1.5 times larger than minimum negative total stress. Modeled and measured positive bed shear stresses are well correlated using the best convolution model, but the model underestimates the data by about 4%. Friction factors are dependent on the choice of normalizing using the maximum velocity, as is conventional, or the instantaneous velocity. These differ because the stress is not in phase with the velocity in general. Friction factors are consistent with previous data for monochromatic waves, and vary inversely with the square-root of the Reynolds number. The total shear stress leads the free stream fluid velocity by approximately 50°, whereas the skin friction shear stress leads by about 30°, which is similar to that reported by earlier researchers.     

On the form factor scale effect

Four geosim families, with fully available resistance test results, have been re-analyzed to check the possible scale effect on the form factor. The form factor determined by Prohaska's method, with exponent n=4 and ITTC'57 correlation line, increases with the model size in all four cases analyzed. Because of its high correlation coefficient, a linear variation of the form factor with the scale is assumed. It is possible to have a first estimation of the ship's form factor extrapolating for λ=1 in the regression line. Form factor Reynolds number dependency will always be associated with a friction line. Using the ITTC'57 correlation line, the following equation K_S−K_M=1.91·(λ−1)·10⁻³ can be used to estimate the scale effect on the form factor. Calculations carried out, for axisymetric bodies, with some CFD codes are in good agreement with the experimental findings.