Experimental Study Of Vortex-Induced Vibrations Of A Pipeline Near An Erodible Sandy Seabed

Based on similarity analyses, a series of experiments have been conducted with a newly established hydro-elastic facility to investigate the transverse vortex-induced vibrations (VIVs) of a submarine pipeline near an erodible sandy seabed under the influence of ocean currents. Typical characteristics of coupling processes between pipe vibration and soil scour in the currents have been summarized for Case 1: pipe is laid above seabed and Case 11: pipe is partially embedded in seabed on the basis of the experimental observations. Pipe vibration and the corresponding local scour are usually two coupled physical processes leading to an equilibrium state. The influence of initial gap-to-diameter ratio (e(0)/D) on the interaction between pipe vibration and local scour has been studied. Experimental results show that the critical values of V-r for the initiation of VIVs of the pipe near an erodible sand bed get bigger with decreasing initial gap-to-diameter ratio within the examined range of e(0)/D (-0.25 < e(0)/D < 0.75). The comparison of the pipe vibrations near an erodible soil with those near a rigid boundary and under wall-free conditions indicates that the vibration amplitudes of the pipe near an erodible sand bed are close to the curve fit under wall-free conditions; nevertheless, for the same stability parameter, the maximum amplitudes for the VIV coupled with local scour increase with the increase of initial gap-to-diameter ratio. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Space experiments of thermocapillary convection in two-liquid layers

In 1999, the space experiments on the Marangoni convection and thermocapillary convection in a system of two immiscible liquid layers in microgravity environment were conducted on board the Chinese scientific satellite SJ-5. A new system of two-layer liquids such as FC-70 liquid and paraffin was used successfully, with the paraffin melted in the space. Two different test-cells are subjected to a temperature gradient perpendicular or parallel to the interface to study the Marangoni convection and thermocapillary convection, respectively. The experimental data obtained in the first Chinese space experiment of fluid are presented. Two-dimensional numerical simulations of thermocapillary convections are carried out using SIMPLEC method A reasonable agreement between the experimental investigation and the numerical results is obtained.

Computer simulation of influence of sedimentation on rapid coagulation

A computer simulation was performed to explore the features and effects of sedimentation on rapid coagulation. To estimate the accumulated influence of gravity on coagulation for dispersions, a sedimentation influence ratio is defined. Some factors possibly related to the influence of sedimentation were considered in the simulation and analysed by comparing the size distribution of aggregates, the change in collision number, and coagulation rates at different gravity levels (0 g, 1 g and more with g being the gravitational constant).

Study on improving the turbidity measurement of the absolute coagulation rate constant

The existing theories dealing with the evaluation of the absolute coagulation rate constant by turbidity measurement were experimentally tested for different particle-sized (radius = a) suspensions at incident wavelengths (lambda) ranging from near-infrared to ultraviolet light. When the size parameter alpha = 2 pi a/lambda > 3, the rate constant data from previous theories for fixed-sized particles show significant inconsistencies at different light wavelengths. We attribute this problem to the imperfection of these theories in describing the light scattering from doublets through their evaluation of the extinction cross section. The evaluations of the rate constants by all previous theories become untenable as the size parameter increases and therefore hampers the applicable range of the turbidity measurement. By using the T-matrix method, we present a robust solution for evaluating the extinction cross section of doublets formed in the aggregation. Our experiments show that this new approach is effective in extending the applicability range of the turbidity methodology and increasing measurement accuracy.

Dissimilar autogenous full penetration welding of superalloy K418 and 42CrMo steel by a high power CWNd : YAG laser

Experiments of autogenous laser full penetration welding between dissimilar cast Ni-based superalloy K418 and alloy steel 42CrMo flat plates with 3.5 mm thickness were conducted using a 3 kW continuous wave (CW) Nd:YAG laser. The influences of laser welding velocity, flow rate of side-blow shielding gas, defocusing distance were investigated. Microstructure of the welded seam was characterized by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Mechanical properties of the welded seam were evaluated by microhardness and tensile strength testing. Results show that high quality full penetration laser-welded joint can be obtained by optimizing the welding velocity, flow rate of shielding gas and defocusing distance. The laser-welded seam have non-equilibrium solidified microstructures consisting of gamma-FeCr0.29Ni0.16C0.06 austenite solid solution dendrites as the dominant and very small amount of super-fine dispersed Ni3Al gamma' phase and Laves particles as well as MC needle-like carbides distributed in the interdendritic regions. Although the microhardness of the laser-welded seam was lower than that of the base metal, the strength of the joint was equal to that of the base metal and the fracture mechanism showed fine ductility. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A non-equilibrium sediment transport model for rill erosion

Sediment transport in rill flows exhibits the characteristics of non-equilibrium transport, and the sediment transport rate of rill flow gradually recovers along the flow direction by erosion. By employing the concept of partial equilibrium sediment transport from open channel hydraulics, a dynamic model of rill erosion on hillslopes was developed. In the model, a parameter, called the restoration coefficient of sediment transport capacity, was used to express the recovery process of sediment transport rate, which was analysed by dimensional analysis and determined from laboratory experimental data. The values of soil loss simulated by the model were in agreement with observed values. The model results showed that the length and gradient of the hillslope and rainfall intensity had different influences on rill erosion. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A coupled model for multiphase fluid flow and sedimentation deformation in oil reservoir and its numerical simulation

A mathematical model for coupled multiphase fluid flow and sedimentation deformation is developed based on fluid-solid interaction mechanism. A finite difference-finite element numerical approach is presented. The results of an example show that the fluid-solid coupled effect has great influence on multiphase fluid flow and reservoir recovery performances, and the coupled model has practical significance for oilfield development.

Influence of liquid bridge volume on the onset of oscillation in floating-zone convection .1. Experiments

The onset of oscillation in the floating zone convection driven by the gradient of surface tension was experimentally studied, and discussions were concentrated on the influence of liquid bridge volume on the onset of oscillation. Distributions of critical applied temperature difference and frequency depending on the volume of the liquid bridge were obtained, and there was a gap range of liquid volume which separated the curve of marginal stability into two parts for fixed rod diameter and aspect ratio. The results imply that the volume of the liquid bridge is a sensitive critical parameter for the onset of oscillation. The implication on the instability is also discussed in the present paper.

Theoretical interpretation on ion heating experiments in reverse field pinch devices

A new set of equations for the energies of the mean magnetic field and the mean plasma velocity is derived taking the dynamo effects into account, by which the anomalous phenomenon, T(i) > T(e), observed in some reversed field pinches (RFP's) is successfully explained.

Equilibrium of isolated magnetostatic flux structure

Two-dimensional magnetostatic models of flux structure confined in stratified atmosphere are discussed in the present paper. The magnetic field in the flux structure is assumed to be force-free at the first step. Numerical solutions for this nonlinear free boundary problem are obtained by finite element method. Results show clearly the relation between the inside fields and outside pressure, especially the influence of atmospheric pressure distribution on the flux structure.

Magnetohydrodynamics equilibrium of a self-confined elliptic plasma ball

A variational principle is applied to the problem of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equilibrium of a self-contained elliptical plasma ball, such as elliptical ball lightning. The principle is appropriate for an approximate solution of partial differential equations with arbitrary boundary shape. The method reduces the partial differential equation to a series of ordinary differential equations and is especially valuable for treating boundaries with nonlinear deformations. The calculations conclude that the pressure distribution and the poloidal current are more uniform in an oblate self-confined plasma ball than that of an elongated plasma ball. The ellipticity of the plasma ball is obviously restricted by its internal pressure, magnetic field, and ambient pressure. Qualitative evidence is presented for the absence of sighting of elongated ball lightning.

The kinetic-theory for dilute solid liquid 2-phase flow

On the basis of a brief review of the continuum theory for macroscopic descriptions and the kinetic theory for microscopic descriptions in solid/liquid two-phase flows, some suggestions are presented, i.e. the solid phase may be described by the Boltzmann equation and the liquid phase still be described by conservation laws in the continuum theory. Among them the action force on the particles by the liquid fluid is a coupling factor which connects the phases. For dilute steady solid/liquid two-phase flows, the particle velocity distribution function can be derived by analogy with the procedures in the kinetic theory of gas molecules for the equilibrium state instead of being assumed, as previous investigators did. This done, more detailed information, such as the velocity probability density distribution, mean velocity distribution and fluctuating intensity etc. can be obtained directly from the particle velocity distribution function or from its integration. Experiments have been performed for dilute solid/liquid two-phase flow in a 4 x 6 cm2 sized circulating square pipe system by means of laser Doppler anemometry so that the theories can be examined. The comparisons show that the theories agree very well with all the measured data.

Kinetic theory for particle concentration distribution in two phase flow

The results of experiments in open channels and closed pipelines show two kinds of patterns for the vertical distribution of particle concentration (i.e., pattern I and pattern II). The former shows a pattern of maximum concentration at some location above the bottom and the downward decay of the concentration below the location. The latter always shows an increase of the particle concentration downward over the whole vertical, with the maximum value at the bottom. Many investigations were made on the pattern II, but few were made on pattern I. In this paper, a particle velocity distribution function is first obtained in the equilibrium state or in dilute steady state for the particle in two-phase flows, then a theoretical model for the particle concentration distribution is derived from the kinetic theory. More attention is paid to the predictions of the concentration distribution of pattern I and comparisons of the present model are made with the data measured by means of laser doppler anemometry (LDA). Very good agreements are obtained between the measured and calculated results.

The induction plasma chemical reactor: Part I. Equilibrium model

A mathematical model is presented for the numerical simulation of the flow, temperature, and concentration fields in an rf plasma chemical reactor. The simulation is performed assuming chemical equilibrium. The extent of validity of this assumption is discussed. The system considered is the reaction of SiCl4 and NH3 for the production of Si3N4.

Magnetostatic equilibrium of isolated magnetic-flux tube

In the present paper, an isolated axisymmetric flux tube is discussed for slender magnetic configuration. The magnetostatic model and the stratified atmospheric model are applied, respectively, to the regions inside and outside the flux tube. The problem is described mathematically by the nonlinear partial differential equations under the nonlinear boundary condition at the free boundary of flux tube. According to the approximation of a small expansive angle, the solutions of series expressions are obtained formally. The model of polytropic plasma is discussed in detail especially. The results show the distributions of thermodynamic quantities and magnetic field extending from the high β region to the low β region, and the flux tube may be either divergent or convergent according to the pressure difference outside and inside the flux tube.