scholarly journals THE NEED FOR PHYSICAL MODELS IN COASTAL ENGINEERING

Author(s):  
Edward Couriel ◽  
Lex Nielsen ◽  
Indra Jayewardene ◽  
Bronson McPherson

Coastal process understanding is based on observations of physical processes in the field and laboratory from which theories are developed. Theories may be expressed mathematically and coded into numerical models. Compared with the cost of field data acquisition and laboratory experiments, the cost of numerical modelling is often perceived to be low. Therefore, there is a tendency to undertake coastal investigation and design using numerical modelling methods alone. However, there is still a need for physical modelling in coastal engineering.

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (9) ◽  
pp. 448-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Enjilzadeh ◽  
Ebrahim Nohani

Morning glory spillways with drop inlets are normally employed in dams built on narrow valleys or placed on steep slopes. In Iran, morning glory spillways have been commonly used in large Dam projects such as Sefidrood dam, Alborz dam, and Haraz dam. Physical models should be built to accurately determine hydraulic parameters of the flow and flow field in spillways. Establishment of a physical model involves extravagant costs and conditions that cannot be justified in some cases. Therefore, suitable numerical models can be proposed for such circumstances. Using FLOW3D numerical models, 3-dimensional numerical modelling of the flow was calibrated and validated by experimental information associated with morning glory spillway of Alborz dam and accuracy of numerical modelling was determined by relative error of numerical model. So it was attempted to determine flow pattern and control conditions of morning glory spillways in different modes using boundary conditions, inlet conditions and grid spacing of flow field and project rating curve of morning glory spillways. According to the results of numerical model, relative error of numerical modelling equals 6.4% for calculating discharge rate of the spillways. Numerical modelling error is 7.6% for determining depth parameter of the flow in spillway crest in comparison with experimental results.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 865
Author(s):  
Maria Graça Neves ◽  
Eric Didier ◽  
Moisés Brito ◽  
María Clavero

This paper presents a study of run-up/overtopping over a smooth impermeable dike with promenade using 2D and 3D mesh-based and mesh-free numerical models and results from 2D physical modelling for strong energetic incident waves. These waves induce plunging wave breaking and a complex water/air mixture turbulent flow before overtopped the dike, a challenging configuration for numerical models. The analysis is structured in two phases: (i) evaluates the results of 2D numerical and physical models for run-up and overtopping; (ii) compares qualitatively the results of 3D numerical models for overtopping over a dike with promenade between groins located in front of a slope beach. The results indicate that the main differences obtained in run-up and overtopping are due to differences in wave generation and active absorption systems used in physical and numerical models and in turbulent models used by the numerical models. These differences lead to changes on incident wave height and on wave breaking and, consequently, on reflection, run-up and overtopping over the structure. For 3D simulation, even if larger discrepancies were found on overtopping along the dike, mean wave overtopping discharge and water flow height at the crest of the groin head show a similar order of magnitude.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (9) ◽  
pp. 474-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Behnam Shamohamadi ◽  
Ali Mehboudi

At the junction of channels, the two corresponding flows of the main and submain channels are diverted from their main alignment and the form and the flow properties change at the junction. Changes in water level profile and depth of flow, velocity distribution, stagnation zone, constriction of public channel, energy loss and also formation of hydraulic jump are among the most important hydraulic variables in this location. For accurate recognition of hydraulic properties of flow and local scour at the junction of channels, physical models are made and constructed. Setting up a physical model requires many conditions and high costs which sometimes are not justifiable, hence appropriate numerical models could be proposed for such options. In this research using Flow3D numerical model, the numerical modelling of the flow has been performed in 3D form utilizing the available laboratory information which is calibrated and validated and accuracy of the numerical modelling, and the corresponding relative error are determined. The calibration and validation of the numerical model results demonstrate that the maximum relative error of the numerical model when simulating for maximum values of scour depth at the flow junction is equal to 8.2%. Also using the numerical model it was found that with passage of time in numerical model, from .....


1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 594
Author(s):  
J B. Hinwood ◽  
A.E. Potts ◽  
P. Sincock

The design process for offshore facilities has used a mix of physical and numerical modelling to provide information on loads and steady dynamic responses in an efficient and accurate fashion. Usually physical modelling is used early in the design process to provide force coefficients for novel forms or novel loading conditions. Physical modelling is also used later in the design process to deal with complex issues for which the available numerical models are not adequate or are inefficient, and it is subsequently used to provide a verification of the final design under a comprehensive set of load cases.All of these applications of physical models remain important in the move to very deep water, but the limitations of water depth, plan area and velocity profile in existing laboratory facilities reduce the capability of physical modelling. At the same time the wide range of novel hull forms, mooring configurations and materials, and riser types increases the requirement for physical data to calibrate the numerical models and increases the need for design validation. Physical modelling procedures, facilities and limitations are discussed and a design methodology is outlined.


Author(s):  
Freek Scheel ◽  
Wiebe De Boer ◽  
Arjen Luijendijk ◽  
Ronald Stive ◽  
Ruud Bouw

Coastal engineering design studies often rely on detailed numerical models that involve various mono-disciplinary physical processes, complex numerics and large computational demands. As a consequence, these models are particularly useful to address specific questions that arise during project phases focusing on detailed design. In contrast, during early project phases focusing on project feasibility, proof-of-concept and preliminary engineering efforts, these detailed numerical models suffer from their aforementioned characteristics. Now, aspects such as interactivity, flexibility and multi-disciplinary assessment are of importance. Simple yet fast tools and empirical relations offer a lot of potential to fill this gap, but are typically not as systematically developed as detailed numerical models. This results in a deficit in consistent integration of disciplines, robustness, interactivity and potential flexibility.


This article describes the proposed approaches to creating distributed models that can, with given accuracy under given restrictions, replace classical physical models for construction objects. The ability to implement the proposed approaches is a consequence of the cyber-physical integration of building systems. The principles of forming the data structure of designed objects and distributed models, which make it possible to uniquely identify the elements and increase the level of detail of such a model, are presented. The data structure diagram of distributed modeling includes, among other things, the level of formation and transmission of signals about physical processes inside cyber-physical building systems. An enlarged algorithm for creating the structure of the distributed model which describes the process of developing a data structure, formalizing requirements for the parameters of a design object and its operating modes (including normal operating conditions and extreme conditions, including natural disasters) and selecting objects for a complete group that provides distributed modeling is presented. The article formulates the main approaches to the implementation of an important practical application of the cyber-physical integration of building systems - the possibility of forming distributed physical models of designed construction objects and the directions of further research are outlined.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liwei Cao ◽  
Danilo Russo ◽  
Vassilios S. Vassiliadis ◽  
Alexei Lapkin

<p>A mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) formulation for symbolic regression was proposed to identify physical models from noisy experimental data. The formulation was tested using numerical models and was found to be more efficient than the previous literature example with respect to the number of predictor variables and training data points. The globally optimal search was extended to identify physical models and to cope with noise in the experimental data predictor variable. The methodology was coupled with the collection of experimental data in an automated fashion, and was proven to be successful in identifying the correct physical models describing the relationship between the shear stress and shear rate for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids, and simple kinetic laws of reactions. Future work will focus on addressing the limitations of the formulation presented in this work, by extending it to be able to address larger complex physical models.</p><p><br></p>


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 458
Author(s):  
Drew C. Baird ◽  
Benjamin Abban ◽  
S. Michael Scurlock ◽  
Steven B. Abt ◽  
Christopher I. Thornton

While there are a wide range of design recommendations for using rock vanes and bendway weirs as streambank protection measures, no comprehensive, standard approach is currently available for design engineers to evaluate their hydraulic performance before construction. This study investigates using 2D numerical modeling as an option for predicting the hydraulic performance of rock vane and bendway weir structure designs for streambank protection. We used the Sedimentation and River Hydraulics (SRH)-2D depth-averaged numerical model to simulate flows around rock vane and bendway weir installations that were previously examined as part of a physical model study and that had water surface elevation and velocity observations. Overall, SRH-2D predicted the same general flow patterns as the physical model, but over- and underpredicted the flow velocity in some areas. These over- and underpredictions could be primarily attributed to the assumption of negligible vertical velocities. Nonetheless, the point differences between the predicted and observed velocities generally ranged from 15 to 25%, with some exceptions. The results showed that 2D numerical models could provide adequate insight into the hydraulic performance of rock vanes and bendway weirs. Accordingly, design guidance and implications of the study results are presented for design engineers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 303-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhifang Zhao ◽  
Tianqi Qi ◽  
Wei Zhou ◽  
David Hui ◽  
Cong Xiao ◽  
...  

AbstractThe behavior of cement-based materials is manipulated by chemical and physical processes at the nanolevel. Therefore, the application of nanomaterials in civil engineering to develop nano-modified cement-based materials is a promising research. In recent decades, a large number of researchers have tried to improve the properties of cement-based materials by employing various nanomaterials and to characterize the mechanism of nano-strengthening. In this study, the state of the art progress of nano-modified cement-based materials is systematically reviewed and summarized. First, this study reviews the basic properties and dispersion methods of nanomaterials commonly used in cement-based materials, including carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, graphene, graphene oxide, nano-silica, nano-calcium carbonate, nano-calcium silicate hydrate, etc. Then the research progress on nano-engineered cementitious composites is reviewed from the view of accelerating cement hydration, reinforcing mechanical properties, and improving durability. In addition, the market and applications of nanomaterials for cement-based materials are briefly discussed, and the cost is creatively summarized through market survey. Finally, this study also summarizes the existing problems in current research and provides future perspectives accordingly.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 10677
Author(s):  
Ronghui Ye ◽  
Jun Kong ◽  
Chengji Shen ◽  
Jinming Zhang ◽  
Weisheng Zhang

Accurate salinity prediction can support the decision-making of water resources management to mitigate the threat of insufficient freshwater supply in densely populated estuaries. Statistical methods are low-cost and less time-consuming compared with numerical models and physical models for predicting estuarine salinity variations. This study proposes an alternative statistical model that can more accurately predict the salinity series in estuaries. The model incorporates an autoregressive model to characterize the memory effect of salinity and includes the changes in salinity driven by river discharge and tides. Furthermore, the Gamma distribution function was introduced to correct the hysteresis effects of river discharge, tides and salinity. Based on fixed corrections of long-term effects, dynamic corrections of short-term effects were added to weaken the hysteresis effects. Real-world model application to the Pearl River Estuary obtained satisfactory agreement between predicted and measured salinity peaks, indicating the accuracy of salinity forecasting. Cross-validation and weekly salinity prediction under small, medium and large river discharges were also conducted to further test the reliability of the model. The statistical model provides a good reference for predicting salinity variations in estuaries.


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