scholarly journals Modeling the Transport and Fate of Sediments Released from Marine Construction Projects in the Coastal Waters of British Columbia, Canada

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Fissel ◽  
Yuehua Lin

Major marine construction projects, resulting in the release of sediments, are subject to environmental assessment and other regulatory approval processes. An important tool used for this is the development of specialized numerical methods for these marine activities. An integrated set of numerical methods addresses four distinct topics: (1) The near-field release and mixing of suspended sediments into the water column (i.e., the initial dilution zone); (2) the transport of the suspended sediments under the influence of complex ocean currents in the far-field; (3) the settling of the transported suspended sediments onto the seabed; and (4) the potential for resuspension of the deposited sediments due to sporadic occurrences of unusually large near-bottom currents. A review of projects subjected to environmental assessment in the coastal waters of British Columbia, from the year 2006 to 2017, is presented to illustrate the numerical models being used and their ongoing development. Improvements include higher resolution model grids to better represent the near-field, the depiction of particle size dependent vertical settling rates and the computation of resuspension of initially deposited sediments, especially in relation to temporary subsea piles of sediments arising from trenching for marine pipelines. The ongoing challenges for this numerical modeling application area are also identified.

Author(s):  
David B. Fissel ◽  
Yuehua Lin

Major marine construction projects, resulting in the release of sediments, are subject to environmental assessment and other regulatory approval processes. An important tool used for this is the development of specialized numerical methods for these marine activities. An integrated set of numerical methods addresses four distinct topics: the near-field release and mixing of suspended sediments into the water column (i.e. the initial dilution zone); the transport of the suspended sediments under the influence of complex ocean currents in the far-field; the settling of the transported suspended sediments onto the seabed; and the potential for resuspension of the deposited sediments due to sporadic occurrences of unusually large near-bottom currents. A review of projects subjected to environmental assessment in the coastal waters of British Columbia from the year 2006 to 2017, is presented to illustrate the numerical models being used and their ongoing development. Improvements include higher resolution model grids to better represent the near-field, the depiction of particle size dependent vertical settling rates and the computation of resuspension of initially deposited sediments, especially in relation to temporary subsea piles of sediments arising from trenching for marine pipelines. The ongoing challenges for this numerical modeling application area are also identified.


2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-58
Author(s):  
Chao Liu ◽  
Zongde Fang ◽  
Fang Guo ◽  
Long Xiang ◽  
Yabin Guan ◽  
...  

Presented in this study is investigation of dynamic behavior of a helical gear reduction by experimental and numerical methods. A closed-loop test rig is designed to measure vibrations of the example system, and the basic principle as well as relevant signal processing method is introduced. A hybrid user-defined element model is established to predict relative vibration acceleration at the gear mesh in a direction normal to contact surfaces. The other two numerical models are also constructed by lumped mass method and contact FEM to compare with the previous model in terms of dynamic responses of the system. First, the experiment data demonstrate that the loaded transmission error calculated by LTCA method is generally acceptable and that the assumption ignoring the tooth backlash is valid under the conditions of large loads. Second, under the common operating conditions, the system vibrations obtained by the experimental and numerical methods primarily occur at the first fourth-order meshing frequencies and that the maximum vibration amplitude, for each method, appears on the fourth-order meshing frequency. Moreover, root-mean-square (RMS) value of the acceleration increases with the increasing loads. Finally, according to the comparison of the simulation results, the variation tendencies of the RMS value along with input rotational speed agree well and that the frequencies where the resonances occur keep coincident generally. With summaries of merit and demerit, application of each numerical method is suggested for dynamic analysis of cylindrical gear system, which aids designers for desirable dynamic behavior of the system and better solutions to engineering problems.


2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis Beckwith ◽  
LiJane Brunner ◽  
Andy McKinley ◽  
Kurt Warmbier ◽  
Shain Wright

1996 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Eghneim ◽  
S. J. Kleis

A combined experimental and numerical study was conducted to support the development of a new gradient maintenance technique for salt-gradient solar ponds. Two numerical models were developed and verified by laboratory experiments. The first is an axisymmetric (near-field) model which determines mixing and entrainment in the near-field of the injecting diffuser by solving the conservation equations of mass, momentum, energy, and salt. The model assumes variable properties and uses a simple turbulence model based on the mixing length hypothesis to account for the turbulence effects. A series of experimental measurements were conducted in the laboratory for the initial adjustment of the turbulence model and verification of the code. The second model is a one-dimensional far-field model which determines the change of the salt distribution in the pond gradient zone as a result of injection by coupling the near-field injection conditions to the pond geometry. This is implemented by distributing the volume fluxes obtained at the domain boundary of the near-field model, to the gradient layers of the same densities. The numerical predictions obtained by the two-region model was found to be in reasonable agreement with the experimental data.


1980 ◽  
Vol 1 (17) ◽  
pp. 132 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Latteux

For most of the needed studies for the design of Calais harbour enlargement works, the "Laooratoire National d'Hydraulique" chose to use numerical models. This approach includes the determination of currents around and insiae the new outer-haroour, just as the evaluation of the project sedimentologic impact and of the long-term evolution of a bank nameo "le Riaen de ia Rade", edging the access channel. Current studies were performed using four nested bidimensionnal computer models fitted on field data and supplying in eac;i point the depth-averaged velocity and the total water height. These four models are based on an implicite finite difference fractionnal step method. Besides for the very near field model the method is especially elaborated to enable' the detailed reproduction of eddies and flow separations. The sedimentological numerical study is based upon current models results : the bed-load transport is computed from the depth-averaged velocity and the water height previously determined using an empirical formula, and tne continuity equation applied to this loaa transport gives then the bed evolution. As soon as the depth variation is significant enough to react on the flow pattern, current fielos are readjusted oy a simple metnod based on flow continuity equation. This numerical model, applied to the near fielo, has given an evaluation of the sedimentological impact of the haroour enlargement project : - strong erosion in front of the new harbour due to current strengthening ; - accretion on each side of this erosion area, especially in the channel ; - bar formation at the harbour entrance.


Author(s):  
Cristiano Fragassa

Rigid-hulled inflatable boats are extremely practical and popular nowadays. They offer a effective conciliation among usability and costs. Their stable and seaworthy behaviour is guaranteed by performing hydroplaning hulls coupled with unsinkable inflated tubes. At the same time, their design is often based on tradition and preconceptions. Rarely, the design assumptions are validated by the reality or, even, by deeper investigations. In this article, both numerical methods and experimental mechanics techniques are proposed as an essential way for supporting the designers in their decisive tasks. Three different situations are detailed where a numerical or an experimental approach shows its benefit inside the engineering design process: firstly permitting to investigate the behaviour of materials driving the fiberglass selection; then measuring the levels of stress and strain in the hull during sailing; finally, using all available information as a base for developing numerical models of the hull slamming in waves. Even if the discussion is focused on a rigid inflatable boat, large part of its considerations is relevant beyond this special case.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Hollaway ◽  
Peter Henrys ◽  
Rebecca Killick ◽  
Amber Leeson ◽  
John Watkins

<p>     Numerical models are essential tools for understanding the complex and dynamic nature of the natural environment and how it will respond to a changing climate. With ever increasing volumes of environmental data and increased availability of high powered computing, these models are becoming more complex and detailed in nature. Therefore the ability of these models to represent reality is critical in their use and future development. This has presented a number of challenges, including providing research platforms for collaborating scientists to explore big data, develop and share new methods, and communicate their results to stakeholders and decision makers. This work presents an example of a cloud-based research platform known as DataLabs and how it can be used to simplify access to advanced statistical methods (in this case changepoint analysis) for environmental science applications.</p><p>     A combination of changepoint analysis and fuzzy logic is used to assess the ability of numerical models to capture local scale temporal events seen in observations. The fuzzy union based metric factors in uncertainty of the changepoint location to calculate individual similarity scores between the numerical model and reality for each changepoint in the observed record. The application of the method is demonstrated through a case study on a high resolution model dataset which was able to pick up observed changepoints in temperature records over Greenland to varying degrees of success. The case study is presented using the DataLabs framework, demonstrating how the method can be shared with other users of the platform and the results visualised and communicated to users of different areas of expertise.</p>


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