Numerical Simulation on Flow Past Two Side-by-Side Inclined Circular Cylinders at Low Reynolds Number

A series of three-dimensional numerical simulations is carried out to investigate the effect of inclined angle on flow behavior behind two side-by-side inclined cylinders at low Reynolds number Re=100 and small spacing ratio T/D=1.5 (T is the center-to-center distance between two side-by-side cylinders, D is the diameter of cylinder). The instantaneous and time-averaged flow fields, force coefficients and Strouhal numbers are analyzed. Special attention is focused on the axial flow characteristics with variation of the inclined angle. The results show that the inclined angle has a significant effect on the gap flow behaviors behind two inclined cylinders. The vortex shedding behind two cylinders is suppressed with the increase of the inclined angle as well as the flip-flop gap flow. Moreover, the mean drag coefficient, root-mean-square lift coefficient and Strouhal numbers decrease monotonously with the increase of the inclined angle, which follows the independent principle at small inclined angles.     

An efficient hybrid integral-equation method for point-absorber wave energy converters with a vertical axis of symmetry

To assist in the prototyping and controller design of point-absorber wave energy converters (WECs), an easy-to-implement hybrid integral-equation method is presented for computing the frequency-domain hydrodynamic properties of bodies with a vertical axis of symmetry in waves. The current hybrid method decomposes the flow domain into two parts: an inner domain containing the body and an outer domain extending to infinity. The solution in the inner domain is computed using the boundary-element method, and the outer-domain solution is expressed using eigenfunctions. Proper matching at the domain boundary is achieved by enforcing continuity of velocity potential and its normal derivative. Body symmetry allows efficient computation using ring sources in the inner domain. The current method is successfully applied to three different body geometries including a vertical truncated floating cylinder, the McIver toroid, and the coaxial-cylinder WEC being developed in the authors’ laboratory. In particular, the current results indicate that, by replacing the flat bottom of the coaxial-cylinder WEC with the Berkeley-Wedge (BW) shape, viscous effect can be significantly reduced with only minor negative impact on wave-exciting force, thus increasing WEC efficiency. Finally, by comparing to experimental measurements, the current method is demonstrated to accurately predict the heave added mass and wave-exciting force on the coaxial-cylinder WEC with BW geometry. If a viscous damping correction factor is used, the heave motion amplitude can also be accurately computed.     

使用多普勒超声成像比较栉孔扇贝与虾夷扇贝循环生理特征

将先进的多普勒超声成像技术运用于栉孔扇贝(Chlamys farreri)和虾夷扇贝(Patinopecten yessoensis)循环生理学的研究中,首次量化了扇贝心率(HR)、血流加速度(ABF)、收缩峰值速度(PS)、舒张末期速度(ED)、血液最大瞬时血流量(Max-IBF)、血液最小瞬时流量(Min-IBF)、收缩期与舒张期流速比(S/D)和阻力指数(RI)等指标,对比了两种不同耐温性扇贝的循环生理指标差异。结果表明,两种扇贝HR、ABF、PS、ED、Max-IBF、Min-IBF与水温均呈正相关;在10—25°C间,栉孔扇贝和虾夷扇贝HR范围分别为16—39、14—31次/min,ABF范围分别为1.75—15.84、0.99—7.41cm/s2,PS范围分别为3.54—8.09、2.32—8.85cm/s,ED范围分别为1.51—3.15、1.09—4.23cm/s,Max—IBF范围分别为0.051—0.193、0.137—0.316m L/s、Min—IBF范围分别为0.025—0.072、0.022—0.131m L/s、RI范围分别为0.49—0.69、0.42—0.54,S/D范围为2.28—2.83、1.75—2.12。同一温度下栉孔扇贝的HR、ABF、PS、ED指标水平均高于虾夷扇贝,Max-IBF、Min-IBF水平均低于虾夷扇贝;两种扇贝RI和S/D指标均在一定范围内波动。研究显示,虾夷扇贝在较低的心脏和血流搏动节律下保持了高效的血液流通,从而以相对较少的能量消耗维持了其机体代谢对血液循环的需求,这也与其冷水性的生态习性相适应。     

Numerical investigation on the suppression of VIV for a circular cylinder by three small control rods

Laminar flow past a circular cylinder with 3 small control rods is investigated by numerical simulation. This study is concerned with the suppression efficacy of vortex induced vibration by small control rods located around a main cylinder. The effects of the attack angle and rod-to-cylinder gap ratio on the hydrodynamics and vibration responses of the main cylinder are investigated. The attack angle of α = 45° is performed as the critical angle for VIV suppression of 3 control rods. The 3 control rods have no effect on VIV suppression when the attack angle is less than the critical angle. The 3 control rods have an excellent VIV suppression efficacy when the attack angle is larger than the critical angle. The transverse vibration frequency of the cylinder with 3 control rods is less than that for an isolated cylinder for all the configurations. The numerical results for the configurations of α = 45° & 60°, G/D = 0.6–1.2 show excellent suppression efficient among the cases investigated in this study. The best suppression efficient is found at α = 45°, G/D = 0.9 for 3 control rods. 2 rods in behind of the main cylinder perform more efficient than that of 1 rod in front for VIV suppression as the gap ratio of G/D less than 1.0.     

Seafloor and buried mounds on the western slope of the Niger Delta

Seafloor mounds are potential geohazards to offshore rig emplacement and drilling operations and may contain evidence of underlying petroleum systems. Therefore, identifying and mapping them is crucial in de-risking exploration and production activities in offshore domains.A 738 km² high resolution three-dimensional seismic dataset was used to investigate the occurrence, seismic characteristics and distribution of features interpreted as seafloor and buried sediment mounds, at water-depths of 800–1600 m, on the western Niger Delta slope. Fifteen seafloor mounds and eighteen shallowly buried mounds were identified. The seafloor mounds are characterised by lower seismic amplitude anomalies than the surrounding seabed sediments, and overlie vertical zones of acoustic blanking. The buried mounds in contrast are characterised by high amplitude anomalies; they also directly overlie sub-vertical zones of acoustic blanking. Seismic evidences from the features, their distribution patterns and tectono-stratigraphic associations suggest that their formation was controlled by the juxtaposition of buried channels and structural highs and their formation caused by focused fluid flow and expulsion of entrained sediments at the seabed.Considering the acoustic and geometrical characteristics of the mounds and comparing them with mound-shaped features from around the world, we conclude that the mounds most likely comprise heterolithic seafloor extrusions of muds and sands from the Agbada Formation with gas and possibly oil in some of the pore space giving rise to the acoustic characteristics.     

Investigation of a longfin inshore squid's swimming characteristics and an underwater locomotion during acceleration

In the present study, locomotion of a real longfin inshore squid (Doryteuthis pealeii) was numerically investigated. Geometry of a real squid was obtained using computed tomography (CT) images. In addition to a two-dimensional axisymmetric squid model, a modified squid model with no cavities around her head and an ellipse shaped model were generated with a fineness ratio (the ratio of body length to maximum body diameter) of 7.56. These numerical models were exposed to an acceleration with two different velocity programs. Added mass and basset forces on bodies were calculated during acceleration of the squid models starting from rest. Pressure and viscous drag forces were also calculated due to pressure variation along the squid models and friction on the surface of the models. The effect of a nozzle diameter on jet velocities and propulsive efficiency at all bodies were evaluated when time dependent velocity profiles (from 0 to 10 m/s in 0.5 and 1 s time durations) were set for the inlet of computational domain. The modified squid model required least thrust force during acceleration phase of time dependent velocity profile compared to the other models while the 0.02 m nozzle diameter provided largest propulsive efficiency for all models.     

Analysis of interaction between ship bottom air cavity and boundary layer

The successful designs of hulls for ships employing drag reduction by air bottom cavitation have been based on solutions of inverse problems of the theory of ideal incompressible fluid. However, prediction of the drag reduction ratio, the air demand by ventilated cavities and the cavity impact on the hull–propeller interaction is impossible in the framework of this theory because all mentioned characteristics depend on interaction of air cavities with the ship boundary layers. Because the known CFD tools are not fitted to ventilated cavitation at low Froude numbers, an analysis of this interaction requires a novel flow model. This model includes the incompressible air flow in the ventilated cavity, the compressible flow of a water–air mixture in the boundary layer on cavities and downstream of them and the curl-free incompressible outer water flow. The provided 2D computations employing this model allows for explanations of the earlier observed effects and for prediction of the air demand by ventilated cavities. The computed velocity profiles downstream of cavities are in the accordance with the available experimental data.     

Time-domain simulation of berthing problem between FPSO and shuttle tanker in waves

A time-domain simulation method based on potential flow model has been developed to investigate the berthing problem between two floating bodies in wave. The boundary value problem is formulated with respect to an earth-fixed coordinate system because the relative positions of the two vessels continuously change during the berthing operation. The classical finite element method is used to solve the Laplace equation in the fluid domain with moving boundary. The linearized free-surface boundary conditions are integrated in time by applying 4th-order Adams–Bashforth–Moulton method. A simple re-mesh algorithm with local and global mesh systems is introduced to update mesh by considering large horizontal movement of the berthing vessel. The developed numerical method is used to investigate the berthing problem between a FPSO and shuttle tanker in waves. The focus is on the wave-induced motion response during the berthing process. The characteristics of the motion responses in berthing operation are examined with various wave frequencies, berthing speeds and wave headings.     

Three dimensional seismic studies of deep-water hazard-related features on the northern slope of South China Sea

Mass transport deposits and geological features related to fluid flow such as gas chimneys, mud diapirs and volcanos, pockmarks and gas hydrates are pervasive on the canyon dominated northern slope of the Pearl River Mouth basin of the South China Sea. These deposits and structures are linked to serious geohazards and are considered risk factors for seabed installations. Based on high resolution three dimensional seismic surveys, seismic characteristics, distributions and origins of these features are analyzed. A distribution map is presented and geometrical parameters and spatial distribution patterns are summarized. Results show that various groups of the mapped features are closely tied to local or regional tectonism and sedimentary processes. Mass transport complexes are classified as slides near the shelf break, initially deformed slumps on the flanks of canyons and highly deformed slumps on the lower slope downslope of the mouth of canyons. We propose them to be preconditioned by pore pressure changes related to sea level fluctuations, steep topography, and fluid and fault activities. Gas chimneys are mainly located in the vicinity of gas reservoirs, while bottom-simulating reflectors are observed within the gas chimney regions, suggesting gas chimneys serve as conduits for thermogenic gas. Mud diapirs/volcanos and pockmarks are observed in small numbers and the formation of pockmarks is related to underlying gas chimneys and faults. This study aims at reducing risks for deep-water engineering on the northern slope of South China Sea.     

Experimental Study on Cross-Flow Induced Vibrations in Heat Exchanger Tube Bundle

Vibration in heat exchangers is one of the main problems that the industry has faced over last few decades. Vibration phenomenon in heat exchangers is of major concern for designers and process engineers since it can lead to the tube damage, tube leakage, baffle damage, tube collision damage, fatigue, creep etc. In the present study, vibration response is analyzed on single tube located in the centre of the tube bundle having parallel triangular arrangement (60°) with P/D ratio of 1.44. The experiment is performed for two different flow conditions. This kind of experiment has not been reported in the literature. Under the first condition, the tube vibration response is analyzed when there is no internal flow in the tube and under the second condition, the response is analyzed when the internal tube flow is maintained at a constant value of 0.1 m/s. The free stream shell side velocity ranges from 0.8 m/s to 1.3 m/s, the reduced gap velocity varies from 1.80 to 2.66 and the Reynolds number varies from 44500 to 66000. It is observed that the internal tube flow results in larger vibration amplitudes for the tube than that without internal tube flow. It is also established that over the current range of shell side flow velocity, the turbulence is the dominant excitation mechanism for producing vibration in the tube since the amplitude varies directly with the increase in the shell side velocity. Damping has no significant effect on the vibration behavior of the tube for the current velocity range.