Mixed analysis of shell and solid elements using the overlaying mesh method

 This article presents a mixed method of analyzing shell elements and solid elements using the overlaying mesh method. In the structural design of a ship's hull, the shell elements are used for the global model. However, the solid elements are necessary to analyze the stress concentration zones or the vicinity of a crack. In such cases, the models are analyzed using zooming analysis, in which the results of a global model analysis are transferred to a local model analysis by imposing boundary conditions. This method is more advantageous than zooming analysis in terms of the accuracy of the solution and the modeling flexibility. Some examples of a plate model with a cracked surface or with a projection are shown in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. Received: August 6, 2002 / Accepted: November 25, 2002 Address correspondence to: S. Nakasumi (sumi@nasl.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp) Updated from the Japanese original, which won the 2002 SNAJ prize (J Soc Nav Archit Jpn 2001;189:219–224; and 190:655–662)     

Certification criteria in type I ecolabelling related to metals for sustainable materials management

A sustainable materials management for metals should be achieved to conserve resources of metal minerals. For the sustainable materials management, material flows through the whole life cycle of materials have been recognized by material flow analysis (MFA) studies. Former MFA studies pointed out that cyclic use of metals could be enhanced not only by increasing quantity of recovered scrap but also by upgrading quality of the scrap. In general, the quality is degraded by contaminants which commingle at disassembling processes. The mixture of contaminants depends on usage of materials in products. Here, Type I ecolabelling has a potential to convey messages for avoiding mixture of contaminants to the producers of finished products. In this study, on the basis of a survey on existing certification criteria related to metals in the world, a general concept of certification criteria on sustainable materials management for metals in Type I ecolabelling system is proposed. Finally, we propose six criteria in the form of certification criteria in Type I ecolabelling system.     

高压喷射搅拌工法改良体形成之实际状态与评价方法

属于高压喷射搅拌工法中一种之喷射灌浆工法(以下简称「JG 工法」),于地层结构复杂之地质条件下,因地质软硬差异造成有效桩径不同,故对于设计或施工管理值标准之采用为一尚待检讨之课题.即针对该等JG工法之技术性问题,根据大范围开挖改良体内部之施工案例所获得之观察结果提出报告.由改良体内部之观察结果可知,若无流木等障碍物之存在,先行灌浆形成之改良体各水平断面大致呈圆形,且后行灌浆形成之改良体与先行灌浆改良体之间呈密合状态.此外亦针对将改良体整体性列入考虑之强度,提出新的评价方法.     

Stability assessment for intact ships in the light of model experiments

A systematic method for assessing intact ship stability with a free-running model in a seakeeping and maneuvering basin is proposed in this paper. Model experiments were carried out in extremely steep regular waves for a model drifting, running in head seas, and quartering seas. This method was applied to two purse seiners, and efficiently identified thresholds in metacentric heights for capsizing of these ships. These capsizing thresholds are compared with requirements of the IMO Code on Intact Stability. This series of model experiments also confirms that capsizing at the threshold occurs only in quartering seas, and shows that capsizing is caused by broaching, loss of stability on a wave crest, or bow diving. Received for publication on Jan. 20, 1999; accepted on July 6, 1999     

On the dispersion relation of hydroelastic waves in a plate

This paper deals with the dispersion relation of hydroelastic waves in pontoon-type very large floating structures (VLFS) using a simple beam modeling, where the term hydroelastic waves means propagation of deflection vibrations in VLFS. The purpose of this paper is to show the properties of the hydroelastic waves. The dispersion relation of hydroelastic waves propagating in an infinite plate floating on the water is derived based on the linear water wave theory. The effects of the water depth and of the bending rigidity of the floating plate on the wavelength, phase velocity, and group velocity of the hydroelastic waves are shown theoretically or numerically. Then, the dispersion relation of hydroelastic waves in a finite plate floating on shallow water is investigated. It is shown that the wavelength or the phase velocity of the hydroelastic waves varies with the location in the plate. Received for publication on April 7, 1999; accepted on Aug. 20, 1999     

Active control for installation of underwater structures

The trend towards deepwater development requires a new approach to underwater installation of offshore structures. The present method using crane vessels has some drawbacks in operations at more than 2000 m depth. The natural period of the coupled system of the rigged structure and the crane vessel becomes longer, so that it is no longer possible to manipulate the cranes to achieve the desired positioning accuracy. This paper examines the application of an active control technique for underwater installations as one of the solutions to the present problems. An active control technique also has the advantage that it can deal with the structural flexibility which allows the structure to be large and light-weight. This structural flexibility imposes problems of suppressing the elastic responses and securing the stability of the control system. In this paper, anH _∞ controller combined with a low authority control/high authority control (LAC/HAC) feedback controller is designed for cases where structural flexibility cannot be ignored. A robust model-following controller is examined for cases where the structure can be treated as rigid. In order to confirm the control algorithm and verify the possibility of the active control installation method, basin tests are executed using two types of neutrally buoyant flexible models with ultrasound ranging systems and thrusters.     

A consideration of the structural design of a large-scale floating structure

The land area of Japan, especially flat land, is very small compared with its economic size. Large-scale floating structures are one solution to satisfy the demand for space by utilizing the ocean. This paper presents a general view of the dynamic response characteristics of large-scale floating structures, pontoons and semi-submersibles. For example, it is shown that the natural frequencies of eigenmodes are higher than the natural frequency of heaving motion. The response of the outer framework of a structure is shown to be generally larger than the response of the central part. Within the limits of our present understanding of the general dynamic response characteristics of such structures, the design and analysis of semi-submersible, large-scale floating structures is discussed. For a pontoon-type large-scale floating structure, a type whose perimeter structure has been modified to become lighter and more rigid is proposed. With this modification, the dynamic response of the whole structure is imporved.     

Frictional drag reduction with air lubricant over a super-water-repellent surface

This paper presents a new technique for reducing frictional drag using a super-water-repellent surface and air-injection (called an SWR & A technique). Its effectiveness was examined by carrying out pressure-loss measurements with a tube of rectangular cross section, along with resistance tests on a horizontal flat plate, a 7.2-m-long tanker model, and a 12-m-long high length-to-beam-ratio model ship. These test results showed that the new technique can significantly reduce the models' frictional drag; for example, the frictional resistance on the SWR surface was reduced by 80% at a speed of 4 m/s and 55% at 8 m/s. Received: October 16, 2000 / Accepted: December 4, 2000     

Optimum routing of a sailing wind farm

To acquire the wind energy of the oceans, a sailing wind farm has been proposed. The wind farm considered is composed of a semisubmersible floating structure, 11 windmills, four sails, six thrusters, and storage for hydrogen. To maximize the acquired energy, an effective algorithm to search for optimum routes was developed. The algorithm is based on the fact that beam winds yield a maximum of acquired energy. This feature reduces the computation time, and, consequently, efficient route optimization becomes possible in a reasonable time. After setting an operational area for the wind farm, navigation simulations for a 1-year period were carried out. A numerical weather forecast was used as well as the responses of the floating structure, such as the speed of the structure, the output power of the windmills, and the time of course changes. In the simulation, the wind farm evades rough seas to avoid structural damage, and an optimum route is searched for. The capacity factor of the system was used to evaluate the efficiency of the optimized routes. From the simulations, the maximum capacity factor achieved was 42.6%. The dependency of the capacity factor on the initial position of the wind farm was also examined. It was shown that offshore from Sanriku in northeastern Japan is an area suited to the operation of the wind farm. The effect of the initial position on consecutive periods of operation is discussed.     

On the vibrational characteristics of a two-tier scaled container stack

It is estimated that around 10,000 containers are lost during maritime transportation every year, representing an economic loss to the liner industry. Regulations and norms used to calculate values to secure them to the ship’s deck account for static loads only, neglecting more realistic conditions. This paper describes an approach to simulate a two-tier scaled model of a 20-ft ISO freight container and its linking connectors, denominated twist locks, subject to a dynamical load induced by its base. To analyze this problem two methods were employed: a shaking table test and finite-element analysis. Results of this study indicate that the numerical model built to simulate two-tier container stack dynamics is a promising tool for further studies. Moreover, the model is able to predict conditions close to real situations faced by container stacks while stored on deck.