Incremental elastoplastic FEM for simulating the deformation process of suction caissons subjected to cyclic loads in soft clays

This paper presents an incremental elastoplastic finite element method (FEM) to simulate the undrained deformation process of suction caisson foundations subjected to cyclic loads in soft clays. The method is developed by encoding the total-stress-based bounding surface model proposed by the authors in the ABAQUS software package. According to the model characteristics, elastoplastic stress states associated with the incremental strains of each iteration are determined using the sub-incremental explicit Euler algorithm, and the state parameters describing the cyclic accumulative rates of strains are updated by setting state variables during the calculations. The radial fallback method is also proposed to modify the stress states outside the bounding surface to the surface during determination of the elastoplastic stress states. The stress reversals of soil elements are judged by the angle between the incremental deviatoric stress and the exterior normal vector at the image stress point on the bounding surface to update the mapping centre and state variables during cyclic loading. To assess the general validity of the method, the reduced scale model tests and centrifuge tests of suction caissons subjected to cyclic loads are simulated using the method. Predictions are in relative good agreement with test results. Compared with the limit equilibrium and quasi-static methods, the method can not only determine the cyclic bearing capacity, but can also analyse the deformation process and the failure mechanisms of suction caisson under cyclic loads in soft clays.     

Estimation of mean and extreme waves in the East China Seas

Accurately estimating the mean and extreme wave statistics and better understanding their directional and seasonal variations are of great importance in the planning and designing of ocean and coastal engineering works. Due to the lack of long-term wave measurement data, the analysis of extreme waves is often based on the numerical wave hind-casting results. In this study, the wave climate in the East China Seas (including the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea) for the past 35 years (1979–2013) is hind-casted using a third generation wave model – WAMC4 (Cycle 4 version of WAM model). Two sets of reanalysis wind data from NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction, USA) and ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts) are used to drive the wave model to generate the long-term wave climate. The hind-casted waves are then analysed to study the mean and extreme wave statistics in the study area. The results show that the mean wave heights decrease from south to north and from sea to land in general. The extreme wave heights with return periods of 50 and 100 years in the summer and autumn seasons are significantly higher than those in the other two seasons, mainly due to the effect of typhoon events. The mean wave heights in the winter season have the highest values, mainly due to the effect of winter monsoon winds. The comparison of extreme wave statistics from both wind fields with the field measurements at several nearshore wave observation stations shows that the extreme waves generated by the ECMWF winds are better than those generated by the NCEP winds. The comparison also shows the extreme waves in deep waters are better reproduced than those in shallow waters, which is partly attributed to the limitations of the wave model used. The results presented in this paper provide useful insight into the wave climate in the area of the East China Seas, as well as the effect of wind data resolution on the simulation of long-term waves.     

Oil dispersal modelling: reanalysis of the Rena oil spill using open-source modelling tools

ABSTRACT

Oil spill forecast modelling is typically used immediately after a spill to predict oil dispersal and promote mobilisation of more effective response operations. The aim of this work was to map oil dispersal after the grounding of the MV Rena on Astrolabe Reef and to verify the results against observations. Model predictions were broadly consistent with observed distribution of oil contamination. However, some hot spots of oil accumulation, likely due to surf-zone and rip current circulation, were not well represented. Additionally, the model was run with 81 differing wind conditions to show that the events occurring during the grounding represented the typical likely behaviour of an oil spill on Astrolabe Reef. Oil dispersal was highly dependent on prevailing wind patterns; more accurate prediction would require better observations of local wind patterns. However, comparison of predictions with observations indicated that the GNOME model was an effective low-cost approach.     

琼州海峡潮流能资源的数值模拟评估

近年来,我国能源消耗量不断的增长使我们更加重视可再生能源的开发利用,而我国近海拥有复杂的海岸线和广阔的大陆架,其中许多海域蕴藏着丰富的潮流能资源。潮流能资源评估则是其电站站址选择、发电量预测等工程设计的首要工作。结合两个站位的潮流实测数据,本文利用FVCOM海洋环流数值模式较好的模拟了琼州海峡潮波传播状况,分析了该海域潮流能资源水平分布规律和时间变化特征,初步估算了该水道的潮流能的理论蕴藏量,并采用FLUX方法对该水道的技术可开发量进行了评估。结果表明,琼州海峡中心海域功率密度高,两岸资源低;可能最大流速、大潮年平均最大功率密度、小潮年平均功率密度和年平均功率密度等特征值分布基本相似;其丰富区域出现在海峡东口南部海域以及海峡中部海域,其中东口南部海域可能最大流速可达4.6 m/s,表层流大潮年平均最大功率密度为5996 W/m²,小潮平均最大功率密度仅为467 W/m²,年平均功率密度为819 W/m²,代表点超过0.7 m/s的潮流流速年统计时间约为4717 h;海峡潮流能资源理论蕴藏量为189.55MW,利用FLUX、FARM、GC方法得到该水道的潮流能可开发量分别为249GW/yr、20.2GW/yr和263GW/yr。     

CMIP5模式对中国近海海表温度的模拟及预估

基于观测和再分析资料;利用多种指标和方法评估了国际耦合模式比较计划（CMIP5）中21个模式对中国近海海温的月、季节和年际变化模拟能力。多模式集合能够再现气候平均意义下近海海温的空间分布特征;但量值上存在一定的低估。在渤海和黄海;集合平均与观测差别比较明显。在年际尺度上;与观测数据对比;模式模拟海温与Niño3指数相关性较小。中国近海海表面温度在1960-2002年有明显的升高趋势;从2003年开始增温趋缓。评估结果表明;ACCESS1.0、BCC-CSM1.1、HadGEM2-ES、IPSL-CM5A-MR、CMCC-CM、FGOALS-g2、CNRM-CM5-2、INMCM4八个模式对中国近海海温的变化有较好的模拟能力。利用ACCESS1.0、INMCM4、BCC-CSM1.1、IPSL-CM5A-MR、CMCC-CM这5个模式结果对中国近海海温未来的变化进行了预估。在RCP4.5、RCP8.5情景下;未来近100年中国近海海温有明显升高趋势;最优模式多模式集合平均增温分别可达到1.5℃、3.3℃;净热通量变化和平流变化共同促进了东海升温。     

CMIP5地球系统模式溶解氧模拟结果分析

本文基于常用的统计方法,通过与WOA09观测的海洋溶解氧浓度数据进行比较,定量地评估了9个CMIP5地球系统模式在历史排放试验中海洋溶解氧气候态特征的模拟能力。在海表,由于地球系统模式均能很好地模拟海表温度（SST）,模式模拟的海表溶解氧浓度分布与观测一致,模拟结果无论是全球平均浓度偏差还是均方根误差均接近0,空间相关系数与标准偏差接近1。在海洋中层以及深层这些重要水团所在的区域,各模式的模拟能力则差异较大,尤其在溶解氧低值区（OMZs）所在的500m到1000m,各模式均出现全球平均偏差、均方根误差的极大值以及空间相关系数的极小值。在海洋内部,模式偏差的原因比较复杂。经向翻转环流和颗粒有机碳通量均对模式的偏差有贡献。分析结果表明物理场偏差对溶解氧偏差的贡献较大。一些重要水团,比如北大西洋深水,南极底层水以及北太平洋中层水在极大程度上影响了溶解氧在这些海区的分布。需要指出的是,虽然在海洋内部各模式模拟的溶解氧浓度偏差较大,但是多模式平均结果却能表现出与观测较好的一致性。     

Numerical modeling study of mineralization induced by methane cold seep at the sea bottom

In order to investigate the response of authigenic minerals to gas hydrate geo-systems, the biogeochemical processes and its induced mineralization were predicted by employing the comprehensive reactive transport modeling approach. Based on the available data extracted from the northern continental slope area of the South China Sea, a 1-D vertical column model was developed. Three cases with different upward methane flux rates and three cases with different mineral compositions, i.e., a total of six cases were designed to investigate the effects of variations in the depth of sulfate methane transition zone (SMTZ) and in the mineral composition on the formation of authigenic minerals. The simulation results indicate that the SMTZ depth influenced by both the upward methane flux rate and the initial composition played an important role in the formation of authigenic minerals. The AOM reaction is intensive at the interface, and the precipitation amount of calcite is large, which is mainly controlled by AOM. When the methane leakage rate is 20 times higher than the base case, aragonite starts to precipitate. During the simulation, oligoclase, k-feldspar, smectite-Na, smectite-Ca, chlorite dissolved. Our study specific to this area as a starting point may provide a quantitative approach for investigating carbonate and pyrite formation in hydrate-bearing sediments accounting for methane oxidation and sulfate reduction. The method presented here and the model built in this study can be used for other sites with similar conditions. In addition, this study may serve as an indication for the potential natural gas hydrate reservoir in depth, and is also significant for marine carbon and sulfur cycle.     

一种越浪式波能发电装置越浪量和波压力的试验研究

越浪式发电装置具有结构稳定、可靠性高等优点。在前人的研究基础上,对越浪式波能发电装置的模型进行了优化设计,通过模型实验研究了该波能发电装置在不同波况、不同干舷高度下对波能的俘获能力以及结构的受力情况。对越浪量的试验结果进行了无量纲分析,分别得出了越浪式模型装置的越浪量关于干舷高度和波高的指数函数拟合曲线,总结了两者对越浪量影响的普遍规律。通过对规则波和不规则波波浪作用下装置受力结果的归纳总结,探讨了波能装置波压力和浮托力变化的一般规律。本研究可为越浪式波能发电装置的研究提供参考依据,为波浪能的利用提供一定的参考价值。     

基于灵敏度分析的海洋油气资源BP神经网络预测模型的优化

作者针对BP神经网络结构设计中存在的问题,提出利用灵敏度分析方法对BP神经网络预测模型进行优化。通过BP算法与参数灵敏度分析的结合,寻找网络输入属性与输出属性之间的影响因子;在保证精度的前提下优选网络输入属性,简化网络结构,以增强网络的泛化能力,减少人为主观因素对网络设计的影响。最后以海洋油气资源预测为例,结合实测资料建立BP神经网络预测模型并进行了优化及预测精度评价,表明优化后的模型既能有效提高油气资源预测结果的稳定性,又不损失预测精度。     

高等级海况条件下移动式海上基地动力响应分析

针对半潜式超大型浮式结构中典型的移动式海上基地(Mobile Offshore Base,MOB)在高等级海况下的动力响应问题展开研究。在MOB结构"刚性模块-柔性连接构件(Rigid Modules and Flexible Connectors,RMFC)"模型的前提下,根据动力学基本原理,经理论推导并计算得到MOB分别在6、7、8级海况的随机波激励下,其上各模块的动力响应位移结果。详细分析了MOB结构同一模块在不同海况条件下的动力响应位移随浪向角及连接构件刚度的变化规律。研究成果可为半潜式超大型浮式结构动力响应研究及结构优化设计提供一定的技术支撑。