A multi-spring model for monopile analysis in soft clays

The offshore wind industry in China has seen a rapid development in recent years and is projected to account for half of global yearly installed capacity in the years to come. Monopiles are a popular foundation solution for supporting offshore wind turbines. However, due to challenging seabed soil conditions, which often feature thick normally consolidated soft clays and harsh environmental loading (i.e. frequent occurrence of typhoons), extremely long monopiles are often designed. The large monopiles are costly to fabricate and install and sometimes kills the viability of the concept in cases where the bedrock is relatively shallow and expensive piling in rock is otherwise required. However, the state-of-practice for designing these monopiles in clays is typically by using the API p-y springs, which are widely known to underestimate soil-pile interaction stiffness and capacity for large diameter monopiles. Improvement to the design method can therefore have significant economic implications to the industry. The paper presents an effort toward this direction. A multi-spring beam-column model suitable for monopile design in soil conditions in China is proposed. The model features three soil spring components, namely the lateral p-y spring, the pile tip base shear s-y spring and rotational m-θ springs along the pile shaft. The validity of the model is verified by a comprehensive suite finite element parametric analyses. Guidance for incorporating the cyclic loading effect into design is also provided. The model proposed in this paper has large potentials for application in design practice.     

Hydroelastic analysis of oblique irregular waves with a pontoon-type VLFS edged with dual inclined perforated plates

The fluid-structure interaction of oblique irregular waves with a pontoon-type very large floating structure (VLFS) edged with dual horizontal/inclined perforated plates has been investigated in the context of the direct time domain modal expansion theory. For the hydroelastic analysis, the boundary element method (BEM) based on time domain Kelvin sources is implemented to establish water wave model including the viscous effect of the perforated plates through the Darcy’s law, and the finite element method (FEM) is adopted for solving the deflections of the VLFS modeled as an equivalent Mindlin thick plate. In order to enhance the computing efficiency, the interpolation-tabulation scheme is applied to assess rapidly and accurately the free-surface Green function and its partial derivatives in finite water depth, and the boundary integral equation of a half or quarter VLFS model is further established taking advantage of symmetry of flow field and structure. Also, the numerical solutions are validated against a series of experimental tests. In the comparison, the empirical relationship between the actual porosity and porous parameter is successfully applied. Numerical solutions and model tests are executed to determine the hydroelastic response characteristics of VLFS with an attached anti-motion device. This study examines the effects of porosity, submerged depth, inclined angle and gap distance of such dual perforated anti-motion plates on the hydroelastic response to provide information regarding the optimal design. The effects of oblique wave angle on the performance of anti-motion and hydroelastic behavior of VLFS are also emphatically examined.     

Time-domain coupled dynamic simulation for SFT-mooring-train interaction in waves and earthquakes

In this study, Submerged Floating Tunnel (SFT)-mooring-train coupled dynamics is solved in the time domain to investigate their dynamic and hydro-elastic interactions under wave and earthquake excitations. The SFT is modeled by the rod-FE (finite element) theory, and it is connected to mooring lines through dummy-connection-mass and linear and rotational springs. A 3D rigid-multi-body dynamic model is developed for train dynamics that consists of seven rigid bodies. The tunnel-train interaction is taken into consideration based on the wheel-rail correspondence assumption and the simplified Kalker linear creep theory. The developed computer simulation program is validated through comparisons with commercial programs and published results when possible. In the case of earthquake-induced dynamics of the coupled system, the effects of soil conditions, tunnel length, mooring interval, seismic-wave propagation, and seaquake are investigated. The magnitudes of the SFT downward motions induced by the moving train are small compared with the motions induced by earthquakes. The earthquake causes transient SFT responses especially at their lowest wet natural frequencies while high-frequency motions are induced by seaquake effect. Structural damping and seismic propagation play an important role in dynamic responses. The interaction of the tunnel and moving train is also evaluated for various train speeds in terms of the derailment and offload factors and riding-comfort criterion. For the given SFT and train designs, the offload factor and riding-comfort criterion can slightly exceed their limits at certain earthquake conditions with the speed as high as 70 m/s, which can be adjusted by reducing train speed.     

Local joint flexibility of tubular X-joints stiffened with external ring or external plates

In the present paper, the Local Joint Flexibility (LJF) of the ring-stiffened X-joints and plate-stiffened X-joints under compressive load is investigated. In the first phase, a finite element (FE) model was generated and verified with the results of available experimental tests and equations. In the next phase, a set number of 234 FE models were created to evaluate the role of the external ring size (β_r and τ_r), the external plate size (β_p and τ_p), and the connection geometry (γ, τ, and β) on the LJF factor (f_LJF). In these FE models, the weld connecting the chord and brace members was generated. The results indicated that the f_LJF of a plate stiffened joint can be down to 76% of the f_LJF of the corresponding un-stiffened joint. Also, the effect of the ring size on the f_LJF was more than the effect of the plate size on the f_LJF, because of the stiffener position. Despite the notable effect of the ring and the plate on the f_LJF, there is not any study or formula on tubular connections stiffened with ring or plate. Therefore, the FE results were used to propose two parametric formulas for determining the f_LJF in X-joints with external ring or external plate under brace compressive load. Moreover, the derived formulas were checked based on the UK DoE acceptance criteria.     

水中悬浮隧道交通荷载模拟方法研究

为研究水中悬浮隧道交通荷载的合理模拟方法以及交通荷载对隧道结构的影响,借鉴铁路、公路交通荷载的模拟方法,综合考虑车辆轮载、路面不平度、行车速度以及外部激励荷载等影响因素的共同作用,提出水中悬浮隧道交通荷载的模拟表达式。通过数值模拟计算,分析悬浮隧道交通荷载的变化特征,并研究不同交通荷载模拟方法对悬浮隧道结构振动位移响应的影响。结果表明:文章提出的交通荷载模拟方法计算结果符合移动振动荷载的波动性和周期性特征。在对结构振动位移响应影响方面,固定均布荷载相当于静载,移动集中荷载和移动振动荷载时的位移变化幅值相对固定均布荷载时的大且影响相似,但移动振动荷载时的振幅稍大,体现了交通荷载中动荷载部分对结构振动位移响应的影响,更适合用来模拟悬浮隧道中的交通荷载。     

基于地基回弹因素的盾构隧道管片上浮预测

针对软弱地层盾构隧道管片脱出盾尾后出现的上浮问题,分析盾构施工过程中管片上浮的诱因,得出软弱地层中管片的上浮主要是地层应力重分布产生的地基回弹力引起的。在此基础上建立隧道开挖动态模型,分析隧道上浮量变化规律以及地层特性对管片上浮量的影响规律,得出地层弹性模量和管片上浮量呈一定的指数关系,且弹性模量对管片上浮量的影响远大于地层黏聚力和内摩擦角。通过力平衡理论计算盾构开挖引起的地层回弹力、管片上浮量以及隧道上浮影响的地层高度范围,并通过对珠江狮子洋工程管片上浮量的计算与实测对比,证明该公式的合理性,为盾构隧道工程中考虑地基抗力引起的管片上浮量预测提供一种新的方法。     

A signal-based fault detection and classification method for heavy haul wagons

This paper proposes a signal-based fault detection and isolation (FDI) system for heavy haul wagons considering the special requirements of low cost and robustness. The sensor network of the proposed system consists of just two accelerometers mounted on the front left and rear right of the carbody. Seven fault indicators (FIs) are proposed based on the cross-correlation analyses of the sensor-collected acceleration signals. Bolster spring fault conditions are focused on in this paper, including two different levels (small faults and moderate faults) and two locations (faults in the left and right bolster springs of the first bogie). A fully detailed dynamic model of a typical 40t axle load heavy haul wagon is developed to evaluate the deterioration of dynamic behaviour under proposed fault conditions and demonstrate the detectability of the proposed FDI method. Even though the fault conditions considered in this paper did not deteriorate the wagon dynamic behaviour dramatically, the proposed FIs show great sensitivity to the bolster spring faults. The most effective and efficient FIs are chosen for fault detection and classification. Analysis results indicate that it is possible to detect changes in bolster stiffness of ±25% and identify the fault location.     

低温独立液舱曲面外板加工减薄量评估

基于耐低温合金材料的非线性特性,以某液化气船的低温独立液舱曲面外板加工成形过程为研究对象,研究其塑形变形过程及机理。利用ABAQUS作为计算分析工具,建立了板材原料及上、下加工模具的分析模型,给定冲压成形的时间和初始速度,并设定时间步长,考察每个时间步长的计算结果,分析了其加工过程中的弹塑性变形过程,评估了低温合金材料在加工过程中的板厚变化情况,并与实际加工测量值进行对比,验证了模型和计算分析过程的准确性。为各类低温独立液舱的设计和材料尺寸选用提供了技术支持和指导。     

某商用车散热器面罩开裂分析与改进

为解决散热器面罩开裂问题,提出了焊点优化方案和散热器面罩加强板外置/加强板内置方案,并进行了模块化设计,制定了2组改进措施。有限元分析结果表明:2种改进措施与原状态相比,均有良好应力改善效果,满足应力要求。     

基于多种失效模式SPS复合钢板替换船用钢板的优化设计

在SPS复合钢板的设计中获取不同的失效模式。以减重为目标,应用序列二次规划法对SPS复合钢板进行等效船用钢板的优化设计,同时对SPS复合钢板进行多目标优化,应用层次分析法定各目标的权重。在这两种优化方法的基础上,对船用钢板与SPS复合钢板进行了屈曲、弯曲对比数值分析,同时将结果与理论计算结果对比分析。结果表明,SPS复合钢板重量能够减轻37%以上,刚度增加两倍多,但厚度增加70%。