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.     

Bragg reflection of water waves by multiple floating horizontal flexible membranes with submerged rectangular bars on the seabed

Bragg reflection of water waves by multiple floating horizontal flexible membranes is investigated based on the linear wave theory and the assumption of small membrane response. Under the floating horizontal membranes, periodical submerged rectangular bars are arranged on the flat seabed. The total reflection and transmission coefficients are obtained by using the eigenfunction expansion method and the wide spacing approximation. The calculated coefficients are validated with the results available in the literature, which shows that the present method is applicable. The characteristics of Bragg reflection are systematically investigated by changing various parameters including the height of the rectangular bars, the number, the tension, the spacing, and the length of the flexible membranes. The results can help designing multiple floating horizontal flexible membranes as effective floating breakwaters by taking advantage of Bragg reflection.     

Semi-analytical solution for the water wave diffraction by arrays of truncated circular cylinders in front of a vertical wall

The present study investigates the combined wave field that is induced by the continuous interaction of plane waves with an array of truncated circular cylinders in front of a rigid wall. The long-term goal of the study is the investigation of possible increase in the efficiency of cylindrical Wave Energy Converters (WECs) by putting in the vicinity of the array a barrier to propagation, a wall, that could assist the reflection of the incoming waves. The main task is to develop a generic solution method that is free of conceptual simplifications employed, e.g. by the method of images and the assumption of “pure” wave reflection. To cope with the set task, the proposed method relies on the semi-analytical formulation of the velocity potentials, while the solution is sought by combined expressions that involve polar and elliptical harmonics. The wall is represented as an elliptical cylinder with zero semi-minor axis. This assumption has eventually a beneficial effect to the underlying formulation given that it simplifies significantly the expansions of the involved diffraction potentials.     

Hydrodynamic Tidal Model of the Persian Gulf Based on Spatially Variable Bed Friction Coefficient

The aim of this study is to develop a two-dimensional hydrodynamic tidal model for the Persian Gulf (PG2017) using 2D-MIKE21 software. The advantages of present study is accounting for the spatial variation of bed friction coefficient besides a precise bathymetry together with a 23-year of combined records of satellite altimetry data. We found that the bed friction coefficient has a significant effect on sea level changes in the region under our modeling consideration. Since the tidal behavior in the northern part of the Qeshm Island is significantly different from the other parts of the Persian Gulf, to present a more accurate hydrodynamic tidal model, the Gulf is divided into two regions where the bed friction coefficient is modeled separately for each region. The root mean square value of the differences between the amplitude of dominant constituents; M2, S2, K1, and O1 derived from the PG2017 model and that of 98 altimetry and coastal tide gauge stations are respectively equal to 1.6, 1.9, 2.8, and 1.3?cm. Moreover, comparing the PG2017 model efficiency with the FES2014, OSU12, EOT11a, DTU10, and Admiralty models shows that the PG2017 model has an improvement of 22.1%, 47.2%, 43.2%, 44.2%, and 57.6% in terms of relative error, respectively.     

A New Wavelet Method for Identification of Eddies and Assessment of Incidents on Islands of the Eastern Caribbean

Using two dimensional continuous wavelet transforms, a novel method for identification of mesoscale eddies is presented to facilitate extraction of characteristics for area, amplitude, type, and location from maps of sea level anomalies. In comparison with the previously established growing method for eddy identification, it is found that the wavelet method identifies more than twice the number of eddies and is particularly better at resolving small eddies down to the 0.25 degree resolution of the data. Such research into eddy identification and tracking is significant to the assessment of eddies with potential to impact on coastlines of small islands. The method is applied to the identification of eddies on tracks towards islands of the Eastern Caribbean over 23?years. Spatial and temporal variation in rate of occurrence and magnitude is established. For Barbados there is an average of 9 anticyclonic incidents a year with maximum amplitude of typically 0.22?m in the dry seasons and 0.16?m in the wet seasons. Seasonal variation is reversed for the other islands with twice the number of anticyclonic incidents having maximum amplitudes of about 0.20?m annually.     

A study of coral reef resilience and implications of adaptive management and rehabilitation in Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam

The Province of Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, is located in the western South China Sea and boasts a shoreline of 385 km and many islands. Previous studies have indicated the extreme diversity and abundance of coral reefs in its waters as compared with other coastal provinces of Vietnam. A study on the resilience of coral reefs against increased surface water temperature and anthropogenic impact is conducted at 19 reef sites in 2015. At each site, a series of parameters (e.g., coral covers, genus diversity, and coral recruitment, substratum heterogeneity, depth, water exchange level, and sediment deposit and water temperature) are measured quantitatively or semi-quantitatively. The measured data are rated based on the relationship between the parameter values and coral susceptibility; the consideration that reef health reflects the biological capability to adapt to environmental changes and the recruitment potential if bleached; and positive or negative influences of physical factors in the mitigation of thermal stress and protecting corals from bleaching. A cumulative analysis enables researchers to divide the studied reefs into four categories based on varying levels of reef health to support resilience, recovery, and vulnerability in the case of increased water temperature. Relevant management interventions for each category and other supporting activities are suggested to enhance management effectiveness and to plan the rehabilitation of coral reefs for biodiversity conservation and touristic development, taking into account the involvement of related stakeholders.     

基于分光光度法的多量程海水营养盐原位传感器检测系统设计

针对传统海水营养盐检测方法不能满足海水营养盐长期原位监测需求的问题,研制了一种基于分光光度法的多量程海水营养盐原位传感器检测系统,通过对系统的高度集成及对多量程检测、低功耗技术、漏液保护技术的应用,实现了对海水5项营养盐参数快速、宽范围、高精度的原位测量。经过实验室和青岛中苑码头现场测试,表明本营养盐传感器检测系统具有低功耗、高可靠性能,可满足对5项营养盐参数的快速精确测量要求,实现了对海水营养盐参数的原位监测,为相关部门及时了解海洋生态环境和水体富营养化程度提供了数据支持,具有重大现实意义。     

基于深度学习的钨钼找矿靶区预测方法研究

随着矿产勘查工作由浅部矿向深部隐伏矿、由易识别矿向难识别矿发展,找矿难度日益增大,地质专家越来越重视新理论、新方法、新技术的应用。深度学习作为人工智能的前沿领域/技术,对于实现矿产资源预测“智能化预测评价”具有得天独厚的优势。本文以陕西省镇安县西部钨钼矿集区单元素化探异常原始数据为基础,提出了基于深度学习的钨钼矿产评价方法。该方法以归一化地球化学数据作为模型训练数据,通过深度学习中深度自编码网络方法实现异常值提取进而识别重点成矿有利地段,实现矿产资源找矿远景区定性预测。研究结果表明,在对957条单元素化探异常原始数据分类且做好模型标签后,整个过程在计算机的“黑盒子”中自动完成学习和预测,相较于传统预测研究方法,本文方法具有自动化程度高和客观性强的特征。此外,本文利用已知矿点构建训练数据集,采用随机森林方法对预测区进行矿产资源找矿靶区预测圈定,为进一步缩小找矿靶区范围提供科学依据。     

用随机有限断层方法模拟2016-11-13新西兰Mw7.8地震

在未来大地震发震构造已知的前提下,提出用经验公式确定大地震断层长度、宽度、地震矩和滑动分布等参数,并用随机有限断层方法预测未来大地震。用随机有限断层方法模拟2016-11-13新西兰M_W7.8地震的12个基岩台站地震动时程和反应谱,并用模拟的频谱幅值与记录频谱幅值平均比值确定模拟误差。结果表明,在周期为0~10 s的范围内,模拟误差在0.92~1.08之间,不同频率模拟误差的标准差变化范围不超过1。95%的置信区间宽度随频率无明显变化,模拟结果反映了地震动记录的平均效果。用准随机方法重新获取新西兰大地震断层初始破裂点和位错滑动分布,模拟地震动并计算模拟误差随频率的变化,得到与最初模型相似的结论,从而进一步证实了本文提出的获取震源参数并用随机有限断层方法预测未来大地震的可靠性,且其特别适用于大地震远场模拟。     

基于共轭梯度搜索的病态问题处理方法

在最小二乘平差准则基础上,把病态平差问题转化为无约束的二次规划问题,并利用优化理论分析病态对平差解的影响。通过共轭梯度搜索算法在可行域中寻找最优步长因子,自动寻找最速下降方向,并给出迭代初值的设置方法。分析近似计算中病态问题与局部最优解的关系,讨论局部最优解的快速迭代方法,并通过实例验证算法的有效性,计算迭代的速度。由于整个过程没有对法方程系数矩阵进行求逆计算,该算法可用于处理大规模系数矩阵高病态的平差问题。