Numerical simulation of the flow about self-propelling tanker models

A time-marching CFD simulation is performed for self-propelling ships. The flow about the hull is simulated by the finite-volume method, and the propeller action is approximated as a propeller disk for which the solution is given by a simplified propeller model. The interaction of two flow models is treated in a time-marching procedure converging towards the steady self-propelling condition. This method is applied to five tanker models, and detailed comparisons are made between the simulated results and corresponding experimental results. It is shown that the flow field in the self-propelling condition is qualitatively well reproduced in the simulation, and the estimated thrust deduction factors for the five hull forms agree well with measured ones. However, the effective wake factors are underestimated, since the Reynolds number in the simulations differs from that in the experiment.     

基于改进移动最小二乘法的结构可靠性分析

基于改进移动最小二乘法对结构可靠性问题进行分析,数值模拟结果表明,改进方法可有效提高计算精度.具体方法是使用椭圆范数代替二范数来度量样本点到中心点的距离,并根据上次迭代所得到的响应面在中心点处的法向量与坐标轴所成角度,对影响域进行旋转变换;从而将样本点的权重大小由样本点与中心点、响应面的距离共同决定,并将每次迭代得到的响应面函数在中心点处的法向信息包含在内.     

Numerical investigation of turbulence near a sheared air–water interface. Part 1: Turbulence statistics beneath a flat water surface sheared by wind

Direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent shear flow beneath a flat water surface with imposed wind shear stress are presented. The results of DNS indicate that there are clear differences, and also similarities, between wind-driven flow and the flow near a solid wall. The qualitative structures of turbulence are similar in both types of flow. Low-speed streaks are also present in wind-driven flow. On the other hand, profiles of the mean velocity and turbulence intensities in wind-driven flow are significantly different from those in flow near a solid wall. The differences are attributed to the lack of a viscous sublayer, and to the boundary condition which allows fluctuations of the tangential velocity components at the boundary. LES of the same flow was also carried out to evaluate subgrid-scale models. It was shown that the features of the flow observed in DNS are well simulated by all models tested, and that the discrepancies between DNS and LES with the dynamic mixed model are very small. Received: August 17, 2000 / Accepted: December 22, 2000     

Numerical simulation of three-dimensional breaking waves

Three-dimensional (3D) wave breaking around bodies of complex geometry has been numerically investigated by use of two types of Navier-Stokes solvers, namely the finite-difference and the finite-volume methods employing rectangular and curvilinear coordinate systems, respectively. Both methods employ the density-function technique to capture the free surface location and can cope with complicated free surface configurations such as breaking waves. The accuracy of the density-function method is examined through the comparison with experimental results, and it is confirmed to be satisfactory when the grid spacing and the time increment are sufficiently small. New computational methods are applied to several problems including 3D breaking waves around ships and wave diffraction around offshore structures. The computed results show good agreement with experimental results indicating that wave breaking phenomena are successfully simulated. The qualitative accuracy, however, could be improved by including the dissipating effect of breaking waves.     

Development of a finite element modeling system for ship structures

In ship structural design, many structural analyses by the finite element method are carried out on models at several different scale levels; for example, a whole ship, cargo hold parts, and detailed structures. However, one serious problem with this design and analysis process is that the generation of the finite element models for a complex configuration is very difficult and laborious. To overcome this problem, an object oriented, finite element modeling system, MODIFY, has been developed by the authors. In this paper, the concept of the finite element modeling system and the techniques for the construction of the system are explained. First, the object oriented data structure of the system, based on the Part-Object concept, is proposed. In this concept, not only the geometry of the domain but also the analytical conditions, such as boundary conditions and material properties, and the finite element model, are represented by the object oriented data structure. By using this data structure, effective finite element model generation can be expected. Second, a mesh generation algorithm based on the frontal method is described. The original frontal method by S.H. Lo was improved for application to three-dimensional curved surfaces. A new inner node placement technique to make quadrilateral elements around stress concentrated areas is also proposed. These techniques are suitable for ship structures, and more accurate results from the finite element analysis can be expected. Moreover, the parallel mesh generation is implemented in MODIFY by using the client-server concept to accelerate mesh generation. Third, a prototype system for the automatic finite element model generation for different analysis levels is proposed. The system is based on the concept of the PD part, which is the part in the design and production stage, and automatic computing of the intersection between PD parts. The validity of this system is demonstrated by some examples.     

A behavioral analysis of freight mode choice decisions

This paper develops a behavioral analysis of freight mode choice decisions that could provide a basis for an acceptable analytical tool for policy assessment. The paper specifically examines the way that truck and rail compete for commodity movement in the US. Two binary mode choice models are introduced in which some shipment-specific variables (e.g. distance, weight and value) and mode-specific variables (e.g. haul time and cost) are found to be determinants. The specifications of the non-selected choice are imputed in a machine learning module. Shipping cost is found to be a central factor for rail shipments, while road shipments are found to be more sensitive to haul time. Sensitivity of mode choice decisions is further analyzed under different fuel price fluctuation scenarios. A low level of mode choice sensitivity is found with respect to fuel price, such that even a 50% increase in fuel cost does not cause a significant modal shift between truck and rail.     

Simulation of the oil spill processes in the Sea of Japan with regional ocean circulation model

A simulation of the movement of spilled oil after the incident of the Russian tanker Nakhodka in the Sea of Japan, in January 1997, was performed by a particle tracking model incorporating advection by currents, random diffusion, the buoyancy effect, the parameterization of oil evaporation, biodegradation, and beaching. The currents advecting spilled oil were defined by surface wind drift superposed on the three-dimensional ocean currents obtained by the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory modular ocean model (GFDL MOM), which was forced by the climatological monthly mean meteorological data, or by the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) daily meteorological data, and assimilated sea surface topography detected by satellite altimeter. A number of experiments with different parameters and situations showed that the wide geographical spread of oil observed is not explained by wind drift alone, and that including the simulated climatological currents gives better results. The combination of surface wind drift and daily ocean currents shows the best agreement between the model and observations except in some coastal areas. The daily meteorological effect on the ocean circulation model results in a stronger variability of currents that closely simulates some features of the nonlinear large-scale horizontal turbulent diffusion of oil. The effect of different parameterizations for the size distribution of model oil particles is discussed. Received for publication on July 26, 1999; accepted on Nov. 17, 1999     

Drift-wood collision load on bow structure of high-speed vessels

Impact load estimation of drift-wood hitting against the bow structure of high-speed vessels has been investigated. It may be difficult for the craft operator to detect in advance a drift-wood floating just below the ocean surface and to avoid the collision with it. It is particularly difficult for operators of the high-speed vessels in night cruising mode. The probability of the accident may be higher than that of the collision with rocks or other ships because of the difficulties of early detection of the floating object. Impact loads are estimated for drift-wood of different sizes and craft speed considering whipping motion and local crushing of the wood at the hitting region. A simplified formula for the load estimation is proposed based on the modal approach and the energy balance. Predicted impact loads can be applied to the initial design of the bow structure and collision bulkhead of the craft to secure the structural safety against a possible accident.     

Extensive application of TMCP steel plates to ship hulls: 40 kgf/mm class high yield stress steel

A study was performed on TMCP (thermo-mechanical control process) - manufactured high-tensile steel plates with yield point of 40 kgf/mm² (YP40), which were recently developed for use in ship production and whose ease of shop fabrication is almost equal to that of the well-proven ship high-tensile steel plates (HT50) with yield points at 32 and 36 kgf/mm² levels.

The authors' study addressed the performance required of the YP40 TMCP high-tensile steel for ship applications, including strength characteristics of base metal and high-heat-input welded joints, and also shop fabrication methods suitable to this material.     

考虑检测维修更新的船体梁时变可靠性分析

目前对服役期内船舶时变可靠性的分析,主要考虑疲劳和腐蚀这两类损伤随时间累积对剖面模数的影响,但很少考虑检测维修因素对损伤的修复作用.本文以某疏浚船为例,通过Matlab软件编程,以船体梁总纵强度为分析对象,建立极限状态方程,定量计算疲劳和腐蚀随时间对剖面模数造成的折减,并定量分析了疲劳裂纹和腐蚀板件检测维修的影响,对船舶的时变可靠性进行分析.计算结果表明,疲劳裂纹和腐蚀损伤随时间累积均会引起船体梁时变可靠度降低,且腐蚀是时变可靠度降低的主要因素;对裂纹和腐蚀板件的检测维修能恢复船舶的可靠度,时变可靠度恢复的效果与裂纹检测精度和腐蚀板件最小允许折减量比率有关.建议在后续研究中将对损伤的检测维修因素纳入分析.