Guilherme F. Rosetti

URANS Calculations for Smooth Circular Cylinder Flow in a Wide Range of Reynolds Numbers: Solution Verification and Validation

The flow around circular smooth fixed cylinder in a large range of Reynolds numbers is considered in this paper. In order to investigate this canonical case, we perform CFD calculations and apply verification & validation (V&V) procedures to draw conclusions regarding numerical error and, afterwards, assess the modeling errors and capabilities of this (U)RANS method to solve the problem. Eight Reynolds numbers between Re = 10 and Re=5×105 will be presented with, at least, four geometrically similar grids and five discretization in time for each case (when unsteady), together with strict control of iterative and round-off errors, allowing a consistent verification analysis with uncertainty estimation. Two-dimensional RANS, steady or unsteady, laminar or turbulent calculations are performed. The original 1994 k-ω SST turbulence model by Menter is used to model turbulence. The validation procedure is performed by comparing the numerical results with an extensive set of experimental results compiled from the literature.

Mitigation of Vortex-Induced Motion (VIM) on a Monocolumn Platform: Forces and Movements

A great deal of works has been developed on the spar vortex-induced motion (VIM) issue. There are, however, very few published works concerning VIM of monocolumn platforms, partly due to the fact that the concept is fairly recent and the first unit was only installed last year. In this context, a meticulous study on VIM for this type of platform concept is presented here. Model test experiments were performed to check the influence of many factors on VIM, such as different headings, wave/current coexistence, different drafts, suppression elements, and the presence of risers. The results of the experiments presented here are motion amplitudes in both in-line and transverse directions, forces and added-mass coefficients, ratios of actual oscillation and natural periods, and motions in the XY plane. This is, therefore, a very extensive and important data set for comparisons and validations of theoretical and numerical models for VIM prediction.

State-of-Art on Vortex-Induced Motion: A Comprehensive Survey After More Than One Decade of Experimental Investigation

After one decade of experimental investigation, the Vortex-Induced Motion – VIM phenomenon deserves a comprehensive survey concerning the advances related to its understanding, mainly under the consideration of the fundamental aspects that keep it in a close relationship to the dynamic behavior of the same phenomenon acting on slender bodies, the well known Vortex-Induced Vibration – VIV. A considerable amount of results can be found in the literature, although there are few works dealing with a general view of the problem. Probably, the main reason for such a large amount of works with no interaction between themselves and, consequently, without a common understanding about VIM might be due to its technological origin, featured by huge platforms with a variety of geometrical details, which ends up placing the researches more on the field of the faithful reproduction of the features in small-scale and less on the global understanding of the phenomenology regardless the floating system, e.g. a spar platform, a monocolumn or even a semi-submersible or a tension-leg platform. Obviously, no one should disagree that there is part of the research that must keep a faithful relationship with the full scale, however, in most of them it is possible to identify the common fundamentals concerning the fluid-structural interaction. The aim of the present work is to address a comprehensive evaluation of the experimental investigations during the past decade on the VIM, trying to gather a general understanding about its phenomenology including some comparisons to VIV. As a result, some relevant aspects are pointed out for a more prospective way of research.Copyright

Analysis Methodology for Vortex-Induced Motion (VIM) of a Monocolumn Platform Applying the Hilbert–Huang Transform Method

Vortex-induced motion (VIM) is a highly nonlinear dynamic phenomenon. Usual spectral analysis methods, using the Fourier transform, rely on the hypotheses of linear and stationary dynamics. A method to treat nonstationary signals that emerge from nonlinear systems is denoted Hilbert–Huang transform (HHT) method. The development of an analysis methodology to study the VIM of a monocolumn production, storage, and offloading system using HHT is presented. The purposes of the present methodology are to improve the statistics analysis of VIM. The results showed to be comparable to results obtained from a traditional analysis (mean of the 10% highest peaks) particularly for the motions in the transverse direction, although the difference between the results from the traditional analysis for the motions in the in-line direction showed a difference of around 25%. The results from the HHT analysis are more reliable than the traditional ones, owing to the larger number of points to calculate the statistics characteristics. These results may be used to design risers and mooring lines, as well as to obtain VIM parameters to calibrate numerical predictions.

A Phenomenological Model for Vortex-Induced Motions of the Monocolumn Platform and Comparison With Experiments

Vortex-Induced Motions (VIM) of floating structures is a very relevant subject for the design of mooring and riser systems. In the design phase, Spar VIM behavior as well as Semi Submersible and Tension Leg Platform (TLP) flow-induced motions are studied and evaluated. This paper discusses flow-induced behavior on the Monocolumn concept by presenting a phenomenological model and comparing its results with a set of experiments that took place in the IPT Towing Tank - Brazil (September 2008). The experimental results have shown some fundamental differences from previous VIM tests on other units such as Spars. This numerical model attempts to identify these disparities in order to better understand the mechanics of this phenomenon. The model is based on a time-domain, two degree-of-freedom structural model coupled with a van der Pol type wake oscillator. The comparison was performed in order to calibrate the model, to study and better understand the tests results, and finally to identify important aspects to investigate in further experiments.Copyright

VORTEX-INDUCED MOTION OF A MONOCOLUMN PLATFORM: NEW ANALYSIS AND COMPARATIVE STUDY

This paper presents a new analysis and a comparison of results obtained from Vortex-Induced Motion (VIM) model tests of the MonoGoM platform, a floating unit designed for the Gulf of Mexico. The choice of scale between the model and the platform in which the tests took place was a very important issue that took into account the basin dimensions and mooring design. The tests were performed in three different basins: the IPT Towing Tank in Brazil (September 2005), the NMRI Model Ship Experimental Towing Tank in Japan (March 2007) and the NMRI Experimental Tank in Japan (June 2008. The objective of this work is to discuss the most relevant issues regarding the concept, execution and procedures to analyze comparatively the results obtained from model tests. The approach employed in the tests was designed to build a reliable data set for comparison with theoretical and numerical models for VIM prediction, especially that of Monocolumn platforms.

Parametric analysis of a phenomenological model for vortex-induced motions of monocolumn platforms

Phenomenological models are an important branch in VIV (Vortex-Induced Vibrations) and in VIM (Vortex-Induced Motions) studies to complement the results achieved via CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), as the latter tool is not presently a suitable tool for intense use in engineering analysis, due to high computer power requirements. A phenomenological model for evaluating the VIM on monocolumn platforms is presented and its results are compared with experimental ones. The main objective is to present a parametric analysis, focusing on the physical significance of the modifications in parameter values. The following parameters are varied: aspect ratio (L/D), structural damping (ξ), fluid damping (γ) and Strouhal number (S). The results are presented in terms of: non-dimensional amplitudes of motion (AX/D and AY/D), added mass coefficient (Ca) and periods of motion (TX and TY). The phenomenological model is based on a time-domain, two degree-of-freedom structural model coupled with van der Pol wake oscillators. The governing equations are solved through fourth-order Runge-Kutta schemes.

Experimental Study on Vortex-Induced Motions (VIM) of a Large-Volume Semi-Submersible Platform

A great deal of work has been developed on the spar and monocolumn vortex-induced motion (VIM) issue. However, there are very few published works concerning VIM of semi-submersible platforms, partly due to the fact that VIM studies for this type of platform recently became interesting particularly due to the increasing semi-submersible dimensions (columns diameter and height. In this context, a meticulous experimental study on VIM for this type of platform concept is presented here. Model test experiments were performed to check the influence of many factors on VIM, such as different headings and hull appendages. The results comply with in-line, cross-flow and yaw motion amplitudes, as well as with combined motions in the XY plane.Copyright

CFD Calculations for Free-Surface-Piercing Low Aspect Ratio Circular Cylinder With Solution Verification and Comparison With Experiments

The flow around free-surface piercing, low aspect-ratio circular cylinder is investigated by means of unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) calculations together with verification procedures and comparison with small-scale experimental and Particle Image Velocimetry results. A two-phase interface capturing model is used to handle the free-surface flow, together with k-ω SST turbulence model. We investigate physical and modeling aspects of this problem in order to gain more knowledge about the interaction of free-surface and free-end effects so that this mechanism is better understood and taken into account when modeling the problem in engineering-applied situations, such as the vortex induced motion of spars, tension-leg platforms and semi-submersibles.The case herein presented is a captive, low aspect-ratio cylinder (L/D = 2.0) with flow velocity corresponding to Reynolds and Froude numbers (both based on diameter) of Re = 4.3 × 104 and FnD = 0.31, respectively. We will show that appreciable free-surface effects are perceived on the flow, but with dominance of free-end effects, at least in terms of forces. Furthermore, we investigate different boundary conditions that would represent this free-surface problem to show that the separation of viscous and free-surface effects is not valid in this instance. Therefore, the interaction between viscous and free-surface effects is also tangentially investigated. In order to support our conclusions, we will show forces with uncertainty estimation and field variables obtained with different modeling strategies, unveiling physical and numerical aspects of this problem.Copyright

On the Numerical Prediction of the Flow Around Smooth Circular Cylinders

The numerical prediction of the flow around a smooth cylinder is one the classical test cases of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Different mathematical models have been used to address this statistically periodic flow. Namely, ensemble-averaged Navier-Stokes equations (URANS); partially-averaged Navier-Stokes equations (PANS); space filtered Navier-Stokes equations (large eddy-simulation LES or variational multi-scale VMS) and direct solution of the Navier-Stokes equation (DNS). Although all these models deal with turbulence in a very different way, all of them require a numerical solution and so they all require a careful control of the numerical uncertainty. We present an overall view of the values of the average drag coefficient (one of the most simple flow quantities that we could select) that have been published in the open literature, which shows a worrying spread of data. Therefore, it is logical to wonder if all these results are obtained with negligible numerical errors/uncertainties, especially when the scatter in the data also applies to results obtained with the same mathematical model. In this paper, we present Solution Verification exercises for the simplest model of those mentioned above: URANS. The calculations are performed at different Reynolds numbers and with different iterative convergence criteria using the ReFRESCO solver. The two-equation SST k–ω eddy-viscosity turbulence model is used in all the calculations performed in this study. The results presented show that numerical (iterative and discretization) errors may have a strong impact in the predictions and that misleading apparent convergence may be obtained with careless iterative convergence criteria. Furthermore, it is shown that grids with similar numbers of cells but different space distributions may lead to significantly different numerical uncertainties.Copyright