Numerical and experimental comparisons of vortex-induced vibrations of marine risers in uniform/sheared currents

This paper presents a general theoretical reduced-order model capable of evaluating the multi-mode nonlinear dynamics of marine risers subject to uniform and sheared currents. The main objectives are to predict the vortex-induced vibration responses and parametrically compare between numerical and experimental results. The emphasis is placed on the analysis of cross-flow vibrations due to unsteady lift forces. The nonlinear equations governing riser axial/transversal motions are derived based on a top-tensioned beam model with typical pinned-pinned boundary conditions. The riser geometric nonlinearities owing to possible large dynamic displacements and multi-mode interactions are accounted for. To approximate the space-time varying lift force, the empirical hydrodynamic model, based on a nonlinear van der Pol wake oscillator with a distributed diffusive term, is used. A low-dimensional dynamic model and computationally-robust time-domain tool are then developed to evaluate the multi-mode fluid-riser interactions. These are very useful in dealing with large parametric studies involving varying system parameters

Dissipative Chaos in Semiconductor Superlattices

We consider the motion of ballistic electrons in a miniband of a semiconductor superlattice (SSL) under the influence of an external, time-periodic electric field. We use the semi-classical balance-equation approach which incorporates elastic and inelastic scattering (as dissipation) and the self-consistent field generated by the electron motion. The coupling of electrons in the miniband to the self-consistent field produces a cooperative nonlinear oscillatory mode which, when interacting with the oscillatory external field and the intrinsic Bloch-type oscillatory mode, can lead to complicated dynamics, including dissipative chaos. For a range of values of the dissipation parameters we determine the regions in the amplitude-frequency plane of the external field in which chaos can occur. Our results suggest that for terahertz external fields of the amplitudes achieved by present-day free electron lasers, chaos may be observable in SSLs. We clarify the nature of this novel nonlinear dynamics in the superlattice-external field system by exploring analogies to the Dicke model of an ensemble of two-level atoms coupled with a resonant cavity field and to Josephson junctions.Comment: 33 pages, 8 figure

Discrete Wave Turbulence

In this Letter we present discrete wave turbulence (DWT) as a counterpart of classical statistical wave turbulence (SWT). DWT is characterized by resonance clustering, not by the size of clusters, i.e. it includes, but is not reduced to, the study of low-dimensional systems. Clusters with integrable and chaotic dynamics co-exist in different sub-spaces of the $\mathbf{k}$-space. NR-diagrams are introduced, a handy graphical presentation of an arbitrary resonance cluster allowing to reconstruct uniquely dynamical system describing the cluster. DWT is shown to be a novel research field in nonlinear science, with its own methods, achievements and application areas.Comment: Presentation of NR-diagrams is improved, comparision with Feynman diagrams is added, typo correcte

Hysteresis-based design of dynamic reference trajectories to avoid saturation in controlled wind turbines

The main objective of this paper is to design a dynamic reference trajectory based on hysteresis to avoid saturation in controlled wind turbines. Basically, the torque controller and pitch controller set-points are hysteretically manipulated to avoid saturation and drive the system with smooth dynamic changes. Simulation results obtained from a 5MW wind turbine benchmark model show that our proposed strategy has a clear added value with respect to the baseline controller (a well-known and accepted industrial wind turbine controller). Moreover, the proposed strategy has been tested in healthy conditions but also in the presence of a realistic fault where the baseline controller caused saturation to nally conduct to instability.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Near-Bed Turbulent Kinetic Energy Budget Under a Large-Scale Plunging Breaking Wave Over a Fixed Bar

Hydrodynamics under regular plunging breaking waves over a fixed breaker bar were studied in a large-scale wave flume. A previous paper reported on the outer flow hydrodynamics; the present paper focuses on the turbulence dynamics near the bed (up to 0.10 m from the bed). Velocities were measured with high spatial and temporal resolution using a two component laser Doppler anemometer. The results show that even at close distance from the bed (1 mm), the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) increases by a factor five between the shoaling, and breaking regions because of invasion of wave breaking turbulence. The sign and phase behavior of the time-dependent Reynolds shear stresses at elevations up to approximately 0.02 m from the bed (roughly twice the elevation of the boundary layer overshoot) are mainly controlled by local bed-shear-generated turbulence, but at higher elevations Reynolds stresses are controlled by wave breaking turbulence. The measurements are subsequently analyzed to investigate the TKE budget at wave-averaged and intrawave time scales. Horizontal and vertical turbulence advection, production, and dissipation are the major terms. A two-dimensional wave-averaged circulation drives advection of wave breaking turbulence through the near-bed layer, resulting in a net downward influx in the bar trough region, followed by seaward advection along the bar's shoreward slope, and an upward outflux above the bar crest. The strongly nonuniform flow across the bar combined with the presence of anisotropic turbulence enhances turbulent production rates near the bed

A Wiener-Laguerre model of VIV forces given recent cylinder velocities

Slender structures immersed in a cross flow can experience vibrations induced by vortex shedding (VIV), which cause fatigue damage and other problems. VIV models in engineering use today tend to operate in the frequency domain. A time domain model would allow to capture the chaotic nature of VIV and to model interactions with other loads and non-linearities. Such a model was developed in the present work: for each cross section, recent velocity history is compressed using Laguerre polynomials. The compressed information is used to enter an interpolation function to predict the instantaneous force, allowing to step the dynamic analysis. An offshore riser was modeled in this way: Some analyses provided an unusually fine level of realism, while in other analyses, the riser fell into an unphysical pattern of vibration. It is concluded that the concept is promissing, yet that more work is needed to understand orbit stability and related issues, in order to further progress towards an engineering tool