Numerical simulation of violent sloshing by a CIP-based method

In this article, a new computational fluid dynamics simulation approach based on the constraint interpolation profile (CIP) method is applied to tackle the violent sloshing problem. The present study considers two-dimensional sloshing phenomena in a rectangular tank. By the proposed method, the sloshing problem is viewed as a multiphase problem that includes water and air flows. A stationary Cartesian grid is used and the free surface is solved by an interface capturing method. The CIP combined unified procedure (CCUP) scheme was adopted for the flow solver, and both the CIP scheme and the CIP conservative semi-Lagrangian with cubic interpolation polynomial (CIP-CSL3) scheme were used for interface capturing. For validation of the numerical method, a physical experiment was conducted with a rectangular tank for several frequencies and filling heights. A convergence check was first performed for the method. The numerical simulation results on violent sloshing show that the use of the CIP-CSL3 scheme as an interface capturing procedure gives much better results for the pressures and free-surface profiles than the conventional CIP scheme.     

Productive efficiency of public and private solid waste logistics and its implications for waste management policy

This paper measures the productive efficiency of municipal solid waste (MSW) logistics by applying data envelopment analysis (DEA) to cross-sectional data of prefectures in Japan. Either through public operations or by outsourcing to private waste collection operators, prefectural governments possess the fundamental authority over waste processing operations in Japan. Therefore, we estimate a multi-input multi-output production efficiency at the prefectural level via DEA, employing several different model settings. Our data classify the MSW into household solid waste (HSW) and business solid waste (BSW) collected by both private and public operators as separate outputs, while the numbers of trucks and workers used by private and public operators are used as inputs. The results consistently show that geographical characteristics, such as the number of inhabited remote islands, are relatively more dominant factors for determining inefficiency. While the implication that a minimum efficient scale is not achieved in these small islands is in line with the literature suggesting that waste logistics has increasing returns at the municipal level, our results indicate that waste collection efficiency in Japan is well described by CRS technology at the prefectural level. The results also show that prefectures with higher private-sector participation, measured in terms of HSW collection, are more efficient, whereas a higher private–labor ratio negatively affects efficiency. We also provide evidence that prefectures with inefficient MSW logistics have a higher tendency of suffering from the illegal dumping of industrial waste.     

Basic studies on accuracy management systems based on estimating welding deformations

Accuracy management concerns various aspects of all assembly industries, e.g., final product quality, manufacturing efficiency, and manufacturing costs. In the near future, accuracy management will be even more important in manufacturing systems because of mechanization and automation. This paper considers the concept of computer-aided accuracy management systems, which are based on the concept of integrated manufacturing systems. We propose two management systems, accuracy planning and accuracy estimation, and concentrate on accuracy planning. A model of welding deformations and an easy estimation method for such deformations by computer analysis using the finite element method (FEM) are described. A prototype system based on the accuracy management concept was implemented in the authors' integrated manufacturing systems, and some examples of estimating welding deformations are given here. Translation of an article that appeared in the Journal of The Society of Naval Architects of Japan, vol. 181 (1997): The original article won the SNAJ prize, which is awarded annually to the best papers selected from the SNAJ Journal, JMST, or other quality journals in the field of naval architecture and ocean engineering.     

Effect of pitting corrosion on the ultimate strength of steel plates subjected to in-plane compression and bending

Corrosion pits with a circular cone shape are typically observed on coated hold frames of aged bulk carriers which carry exclusively coal and iron ore. In order to ensure the safety of these types of bulk carrier, it is necessary to understand the effect of pitting corrosion on the local strength of hold frames. In order to investigate this effect, a series of nonlinear finite-element (FE) analyses has been performed with pitted plates subjected to in-plane compressive loads and bending moments. It has been shown that the ultimate compression load or bending moment of pitted plates is smaller than that of uniformly corroded plates in terms of average thickness loss, and that predictions of the ultimate strength using the average thickness loss at the minimum cross section would be conservative. In order to establish a method of evaluating strength reduction due to pitting corrosion, it is important to identify the failure mode that would be most detrimentally affected by pitting corrosion. It was found that the reduction of the ultimate compressive load or bending moment due to pitting corrosion is smaller than that of the tensile strength in terms of equivalent thickness.     

基于高阶边界元法和波浪交互理论的三维相邻多浮体问题研究

在解决三维相邻多浮体的水动力问题时,正确处理各浮体之间的相互作用是分析计算的关键所在。文章分别运用高阶边界元法和波浪交互理论对一个由箱型浮体组成的三维多浮体问题进行求解,通过对比分析浮体所受波浪力和水下表面压力分布结果,验证两种方法计算结果的精确度,研究该模型的水动力特点;并通过改变各浮体之间的距离,寻求波浪交互理论在求解三维多浮体问题中的适用性,对该方法在浮体间距不满足限制条件时的计算结果进行解释。     

Studies on the block positioning metrics system for the hull erection stage

In ship hull production, the accuracy of management activities is extremely important. The block positioning operation in the erection stage is a key process in such management. The quality of the block positioning determines not only the accuracy of the final hull, but also the productivity and cost at the erection stage. We have previously proposed the basic concepts of computer-aided accuracy management. Accuracy management activities consist of "accuracy planning activities" and "accuracy measurement activities." Accuracy measurement activities involve checking and coping with inaccuracy. We have also proposed a system of accuracy measurement metrics: one is accuracy for completion (e.g., straightness, flatness), and the other is accuracy for construction (e.g., the relative joint shapes of each part). This paper explains the detailed accuracy metrics for a block positioning operation in the erection stage. The quality of the block positioning operation is estimated by this system: the accuracy of the completed hull can be evaluated by the concept of tolerance, and the accuracy of the construction process can be evaluated by the concept of labor costs. The prototype of this accuracy metrics system is then implemented. This metrics system is combined with the optimization software program iSIGHT to decide the best block positioning process. Then some examples of the block position optimizing process are shown. Received: November 2, 2001 / Accepted: December 6, 2001     

Theoretical,experimental and numerical investigations into nonlinear motion of a tethered-buoy system

In this paper, we discuss nonlinear motion of a buoy connected vertically to the seabed via a tensioned tether (tethered-buoy). A series of scaled model tests has been conducted and a significant nonlinear behavior of the buoy motion, sub-harmonic motion in particular, is observed. Taking account of the influence of time-varying tether tension on the buoy motion, theoretical explanation is made for the sub-harmonic response. The stability of the tethered-buoy system is focused based on Mathieu instability theory. A strongly coupled numerical model between the buoy motion and the tether behavior is established to clarify the mechanism of the nonlinear motion of the tethered-buoy system. A comparison between the experiment data and simulation results is presented not only for the linear but also for the sub-harmonic components. Influential factors for the sub-harmonic motion are discussed in detail. It turned out that the sub-harmonic motion is dominated by the nonlinear coupling effect of time-varying tension in the tether with the buoy motion. Finally, the influential factors to the sub-harmonic motion are indicated throughout the comparison between two different buoy models.     

Evaluation of an existing bus network using a transit network optimisation model: a case study of the Hiroshima City Bus network

This study evaluates an existing bus network from the perspectives of passengers, operators, and overall system efficiency using the output of a previously developed transportation network optimisation model. This model is formulated as a bi-level optimisation problem with a transit assignment model as the lower problem. The upper problem is also formulated as bi-level optimisation problem to minimise costs for both passengers and operators, making it possible to evaluate the effects of reducing operator cost against passenger cost. A case study based on demand data for Hiroshima City confirms that the current bus network is close to the Pareto front, if the total costs to both passengers and operators are adopted as objective functions. However, the sensitivity analysis with regard to the OD pattern fluctuation indicates that passenger and operator costs in the current network are not always close to the Pareto front. Finally, the results suggests that, regardless of OD pattern fluctuation, reducing operator costs will increase passenger cost and increase inequity in service levels among passengers.