Stefan Carstensen

Coherent structures in wave boundary layers. Part 2. Solitary motion

This study continues the investigation of wave boundary layers reported by Carstensen, Sumer & Fredsoe (J. Fluid Mech., 2010, part 1 of this paper). The present paper summarizes the results of an experimental investigation of turbulent solitary wave boundary layers, simulated by solitary motion in an oscillating water tunnel. Two kinds of measurements were made: bed shear stress measurements and velocity measurements. The experiments show that the solitary-motion boundary layer experiences three kinds of flow regimes as the Reynolds number is increased: (i) laminar regime; (ii) laminar regime where the boundary-layer flow experiences a regular array of vortex tubes near the bed over a short period of time during the deceleration stage; and (iii) transitional regime characterized with turbulent spots, revealed by single/multiple, or, sometimes, quite dense spikes in the bed shear stress traces. Supplementary synchronized flow visualization tests confirmed the presence of the previously mentioned flow features. Information related to flow resistance are also given in the paper.

Coherent structures in wave boundary layers. Part 1. Oscillatory motion

This work concerns oscillatory boundary layers over smooth beds. It comprises combined visual and quantitative techniques including bed shear stress measurements. The experiments were carried out in an oscillating water tunnel. The experiments reveal two significant coherent flow structures: (i) Vortex tubes, essentially two-dimensional vortices close to the bed extending across the width of the boundary-layer flow, caused by an inflectional-point shear layer instability. The imprint of these vortices in the bed shear stress is a series of small, insignificant kinks and dips. (ii) Turbulent spots, isolated arrowhead-shaped areas close to the bed in an otherwise laminar boundary layer where the flow ‘bursts’ with violent oscillations. The emergence of the turbulent spots marks the onset of turbulence. Turbulent spots cause single or multiple violent spikes in the bed shear stress signal, which has profound implications for sediment transport (in both the laboratory and the field). The experiments also show that similar coherent flow structures exist in the case of combined oscillatory flow and current.

A note on turbulent spots over a rough bed in wave boundary layers

This study is a continuation of the investigation of turbulent spots in wave boundary layers over a smooth wall reported by Carstensen et al. [J. Fluid Mech. 646, 169–206 (2010)10.1017/S0022112009992825]. The present paper summarises the results of an experimental investigation of turbulent spots in wave boundary layers over a rough wall. Two kinds of experiments were made: flow visualization tests and velocity profile measurements. The experiments show that turbulent spots as observed in the smooth-wall wave boundary layers are present irrespective of wall roughness conditions. As in the smooth-wall case the turbulent spots over the rough wall appear locally in time and space and grow in size as time progresses.

Multi Vessel Interaction in Shallow Water

A numerical package for simulating vessel motions in the time domain, WAMSIM, is extended to handle multiple moving bodies interconnected through a nonlinear mooring system. WAMSIM relies on the industry standard program WAMIT to calculate the hydrodynamic characteristics and interaction of multiple bodies in the frequency domain. The numerical code is used to simulate the motions and mooring line and fender forces of two LNG tankers moored side-by-side in shallow water. One of the gas tankers is moored to the sea floor through a turret with chain catenaries. Realistic short-crested irregular waves obtained from a Boussinesq wave model are used to force the model. Motion spectra of the simulated motions are compared to measured motions from physical scale model tests. The model shows good agreement with measured motions and mooring line forces.Copyright

Mixing of stratified flow around bridge piers in steady current

AbstractThis paper presents the results of an experimental and numerical investigation of the mixing of stratified flow around bridge pier structures. In this study, which was carried out in connec...

Experimental Study of Wave Force Distribution on a Monopile Structure

As the demand for offshore wind energy continues to grow, the strive to understand the wave forces acting on the substructure of the wind turbines continues. In regard to wind turbine design, it is vital to consider not only the total wave force, but also the local wave forces. Local forces are particularly important for the design of secondary structures as e.g. mooring platforms. Typically, however, experimental studies mainly concern total forces or idealized local forces. We present here a rather simple way to measure local forces along a model monopile. The study is conducted in a wave flume of 28 m in length, in which waves are generated by a piston-type wave maker at a water depth of 0.515 m and shoal onto a bed of slope 1:25. A model monopile is installed and subjected to forcing from a series of both regular and irregular waves. In the experimental set-up, the model monopile is fixed at the bottom and the top and consists of seven independent cylindrical sections. The cylindrical sections are connected by force transducers which measure local shear, and so the associated local forces may be determined. The measured local forces are compared to the force distribution given by Morisons equation combined with linear theory and Wheeler stretching, which is a force estimate commonly used in the industry. This study shows that the total force is rather well captured by Morison’s equation. The force distribution estimated from Morison’s equation, however, shows larger discrepancies from the measured forces. This encourages for further measurements. In this study, we show that it is possible to measure force distribution on a model monopile in a simple and cost-effective manner. The aim is here to demonstrate the method and we will later present a larger body of work associated with the outcome of the measurements.Copyright