Simple Numerical Model Research Articles

Static and dynamic responses of point-fixing laminated glass plates under out-of-plane loading

In canopy and façade panel applications where glass elements are utilized, support is typically provided through small point-fixed steel hinges, which can enhance transparency but introduce notable structural challenges. To ensure structural integrity over time, the design of these systems must be supported by experimental evidence or its response monitored during its lifetime. A common approach involves continuous structural monitoring via accelerometers, which theoretically enables the detection of stiffness variations, indicative of potential damage, within the monitored components.The paper examines the static and dynamic responses of point-fixed, two-ply laminated glass panels, both heat-strengthened and thermally toughened (tempered), to assess their elastic and post-breakage behavior. Experimental data are compared directly with results from numerical simulations. The findings demonstrate that: (i) conventional monitoring systems for damage detection in glass panels are effective only with thermally toughened glass; (ii) point-fixed boundary conditions represent the most structurally disadvantageous support configuration; (iii) simplified numerical models offer a preliminary but informative framework for understanding the post-breakage response of glass panels.

Thermodynamics of solids including anharmonicity through quasiparticle theory

The quasiharmonic approximation (QHA) in combination with density-functional theory is the main computational method used to calculate thermodynamic properties under arbitrary temperature and pressure conditions. QHA can predict thermodynamic phase diagrams, elastic properties and temperature- and pressure-dependent equilibrium geometries, all of which are important in various fields of knowledge. The main drawbacks of QHA are that it makes spurious predictions for the volume and other properties in the high temperature limit due to its approximate treatment of anharmonicity, and that it is unable to model dynamically stabilized structures. In this work, we propose an extension to QHA that fixes these problems. Our approach is based on four ingredients: (i) the calculation of the n-th order force constants using randomly displaced configurations and regularized regression, (ii) the calculation of temperature-dependent effective harmonic frequencies ω(V, T) within the self-consistent harmonic approximation (SCHA), (iii) Allen’s quasiparticle (QP) theory, which allows the calculation of the anharmonic entropy from the effective frequencies, and (iv) a simple Debye-like numerical model that enables the calculation of all other thermodynamic properties from the QP entropies. The proposed method is conceptually simple, with a computational complexity similar to QHA but requiring more supercell calculations. It allows incorporating anharmonic effects to any order. The predictions of the new method coincide with QHA in the low-temperature limit and eliminate the QHA blowout at high temperature, recovering the experimentally observed behavior of all thermodynamic properties tested. The performance of the new method is demonstrated by calculating the thermodynamic properties of geologically relevant minerals MgO and CaO. In addition, using cubic SrTiO3 as an example, we show that, unlike QHA, our method can also predict thermodynamic properties of dynamically stabilized phases. We expect this new method to be an important tool in geochemistry and materials discovery.

A methodology for deciding on well seal options for abandonment

The energy transition to achieve net zero anthropogenic CO 2 emissions will require permanently sealing and abandoning wells or boreholes drilled for many different purposes, including: underground CO 2 storage; hydrogen storage; geothermal energy extraction; site characterization for radioactive waste repositories; and hydrocarbon extraction. It is necessary to objectively decide what sealing materials, combination of materials and methods of emplacement are optimal for a given well sealing project, taking into account the properties of lithologies penetrated, the physical and geochemical conditions around the well, the geometry of the well, and characteristics of well engineering. A workflow that would allow for a structured approach to designing well seals during well decommissioning and a set of complementary tools that will enable an informed, structured, transparent and traceable process for designing a well decommissioning sealing solution for a particular well in a given geological environment is presented in this paper. The tools include: (1) a database of Features Events and Processes; (2) a decision tree for evaluating different well sealing options and for documenting the rationale for decisions; (3) an approach for comparing options using multiple decision trees; (4) and a suite of simplified numerical models to inform judgements.

Testing and rating of vehicle-integrated photovoltaics: Scientific background

We need to rush into the international standardization of the performance of VIPV. IEC TC82 PT600 and WG2 group carry out the standardization discussion. This work covers the scientific aspects behind the standardization. It consists of three layers: (1) Performance testing VIPV or curved PV modules by reproducible measurements; (2) Outdoor performance validation and correction modeling; (3) Energy rating. Unlike other PV installations, the relative position of the sun and its shading objects quickly and frequently moves so that the repeatable evaluation of the performance of VIPV was challenging. As a result of scientists and testing engineers worldwide, (1) we could develop a new testing protocol for the curved PV modules, (2) we observed the different performances in the curved photovoltaic modules and succeeded in reproducing in a simple numerical model, and (3) we developed Excel-level calculation methods for shading and partial-shading impact to irradiation onto photovoltaic modules on vehicles.

Theoretical and numerical modeling of a shallow foundation stiffness based on the theory of elastic half-space

Abstract The paper presents the derivation of equations for the calculation of the spring constants ky, kz, and kϕ and the spring coefficients βy, βz , and βϕ used in the modeling of a foundation with a rectangular base on elastic soil. All the equations were derived based on information provided in literature, for example, Barkan, Gorbunov-Possadov, and Whitman et al. To demonstrate the application of these equations in practice, two numerical models of a reinforced concrete frame structure that was built on soil were created using Abaqus FEA software. Model A represents a complex three-dimensional numerical model that consists of a reinforced concrete frame structure, which has a soil layer beneath it. Model B represents a simple three-dimensional numerical model consisting of a reinforced concrete frame structure, where the stiffness of the soil layer beneath the structure was modeled with vertical, horizontal, and rocking spring constants applied to the bottom of each foundation. Due to the nonlinear boundary condition used in the supports of the concrete frame model, such as contact and friction, all the involved loads were incorporated into a single load case, and a large displacement formulation was used in the analysis. The authors focused on the method of a simplified modeling of frame structures founded on soil. To conduct comparative analyses, two columns and two beams from each model were selected, from which the internal forces and displacements were compared. The findings of the comparative analysis are presented in tables and then discussed.

Simple model, complex strata: 2-D numerical forward model analysis of heterogeneity and controls in submarine fan systems

ABSTRACT Turbidite strata stacking patterns are interpreted as products of either allogenic forcing, autogenic processes, or a combination of both. However, the relative influence of each remains difficult to constrain. Here, a simple reduced-complexity 2-D numerical forward model (Lobyte2D) simulates gravity flows passing down a slope, running out, and depositing across a flat basin floor. Flows can erode, bypass, or deposit, cumulatively producing a variety of entirely autogenic retrograding, aggrading, and prograding strata with stratigraphic completeness values ranging from less than 1% to around 40%. Complexity of modeled strata is measured with a spatial entropy metric, and sensitivity analysis indicates that grain-size and flow-acceleration parameters are the key controls on stratal complexity: larger grain sizes are associated with deeper erosion, which makes more rugged topography, and higher values of flow acceleration make flow speeds more sensitive to topography, which triggers localized deposition and/or erosion. Such complexity produced by a simple two-dimensional numerical forward model suggests that even more complex behavior is likely in natural systems, and this should be reflected in outcrop and subsurface interpretations. However, comparison of geometries in chronostratigraphic and cross-section plots of modeled strata shows that, due to a variety of cryptic bypass and erosion surfaces, stacking trends visible in chronostratigraphic plots are much more difficult to detect in outcrop and subsurface cross sections and vertical sections. These insights suggest that many outcrop and subsurface interpretations of submarine-fan strata, particularly sequence stratigraphic interpretations, may be missing substantial complexity, and underestimating the uncertainty inherent in limited data.

Modeling local scour around complex bridge supports using CFD and a shear-stresses-based simplified approach

This study presents a simplified numerical modeling approach that estimates the local scour depths around bridge supports based on the bed shear stresses. It is developed using 3D computational fluid dynamics and coding through ANSYS workbench scripting along with C++ language. The proposed model is called SCFDS (Simplified Computational Fluid Dynamics Scour). The model’s main idea is to lower the bed bathymetry at the locations affected by flow obstruction until the shear stresses reach stable target values. The developed model is assessed by applying it to a complex pier of a real bridge over the Nile-River, and its scour data is calculated using the Hec-18 empirical equations. The outcomes of the model’s assessment show that it can depict the local scour around complex bridge supports. The developed approach is a novel and efficient tool that can help the designers in simulating local scour in the vicinity of flow obstructions. However, more verification studies are necessary to reach a generalized conclusion.

Vertical Carbon Export During a Phytoplankton Bloom in the Chukchi Sea: Physical Setting and Frontal Subduction

AbstractIn order to quantify pelagic‐benthic coupling on high‐latitude shelves, it is imperative to identify the different physical mechanisms by which phytoplankton are exported to the sediments. In June–July 2023, a field program documented the evolution of an under‐ice phytoplankton bloom on the northeast Chukchi shelf. Here, we use in situ data from the cruise, a simple numerical model, historical water column data, and ocean reanalysis fields to characterize the physical setting and describe the dynamically driven vertical export of chlorophyll associated with the bloom. A water mass front separating cold, high‐nutrient winter water in the north and warmer summer waters to the south—roughly coincident with the ice edge—supported a baroclinic jet which is part of the Central Channel flow branch that veers eastward toward Barrow Canyon. A plume of high chlorophyll fluorescence extending from the near‐surface bloom in the winter water downwards along the front was measured throughout the cruise. Using a passive tracer to represent phytoplankton in the model, it was demonstrated that the plume is the result of subduction due to baroclinic instability of the frontal jet. This process, in concert with the gravitational sinking, pumps the chlorophyll downwards an order of magnitude faster than gravitational sinking alone. Particle tracking using the ocean reanalysis fields reveals that a substantial portion of the chlorophyll away from the front is advected off of the northeast Chukchi shelf before reaching the bottom. This highlights the importance of the frontal subduction process for delivering carbon to the sea floor.

Incorporating soil‐structure interaction into simplified numerical models for fragility analysis of RC structures

AbstractSimplified building models are a valuable option for seismic assessment at the regional scale. These models often use calibrated springs to model column behaviour, and recent advances have made them suitable for capturing torsional response in Reinforced‐Concrete Moment‐Resisting‐Frames. Nevertheless, their validation is typically achieved using fixed‐base models, which do not include the influence of soil‐structure interaction (SSI). This study introduces a novel approach to quantify the accuracy of a recently developed simplified model while accounting for dynamic SSI, using a newly implemented, refined 3D Finite Element non‐linear soil model in OpenSees. The accuracy of the simplified structural model is assessed by comparing the results of non‐linear dynamic analyses with those of a refined model in terms of (i) a peak structural demand parameter such as the interstorey‐drift ratio and (ii) fragility curves computed from cloud analysis and accounting for collapse cases. The study presents details of the proposed refined approach for 3D soil modelling in OpenSees, focusing on implementing free‐field boundary conditions and structure‐to‐soil connections. Results show that the accuracy of the simplified model is maintained, even in the presence of SSI, and it successfully captures the overall structural response measured at peak demand. For the proposed case study, the difference between the simplified and refined models’ fragility curves’ medians is 4% and 2% for fixed and SSI models, respectively. The simplified structural model, combined with the refined soil model for SSI effects, presents an innovative and conservative, yet computationally efficient, alternative for seismic risk analysis, even in the presence of structural irregularity.

A numerical investigation on the conductive drying process for phosphate sludge

Phosphate production generates huge quantities of waste materials that pose both economic and environmental challenges. They are characterized by a high-water content, making disposal a very difficult task. To address this issue, conductive drying emerges as a viable solution to reduce the water content in the phosphate sludge to facilitate handling and specially recycling them as construction materials. This paper presents a simplified numerical model based on Fick's law, depicting heat and mass transfer in porous media to simulate the conductive drying process within the phosphate sludge. To provide more accuracy to the numerical model solution, the experimental data are integrated into the numerical model as boundary conditions, enabling the prediction of temperature profiles, thermal conductivity, and effective moisture diffusivity throughout the conductive drying process. The water evaporation capacity is found between 1.25 and 2.1 kg water/m2.h.These findings could be a tool for designing a suitable dryer for phosphate washing sludge.

Radiative heat transfer to enhance the performance of liquid metal-based phase change heat sink under natural convection condition

Liquid metal phase change materials have the advantages of high thermal conductivity and high volumetric latent heat, which are expected to address the growing challenges of thermal management of advanced electronics. In previous studies, the effect of radiative heat transfer from fins of a phase change heat sink on thermal management performance has rarely been considered. In this study, radiative coating materials with high emissivity were prepared and coated on the fins of the liquid metal phase change heat sink. The effect of radiative heat transfer on the performance of liquid metal phase change heat sink was investigated. The experimental results of continuous heating under natural convection conditions show that the introduction of the radiative coating with an emissivity of 0.9298 can extend the time for the surface temperature of the heat source to reach 100 °C by 9.4%, while shortening the recovery time of the phase change heat sink by 14.9%. The results of high-power cyclic heating indicate that the high emissivity coating can reduce the peak temperature by 16.6 °C in the tenth working cycle. A simplified numerical model was subsequently developed and validated to determine the specific effects of phase change and radiative heat transfer on the overall thermal control performance. The radiation-enhanced liquid metal phase change heat sink proposed in this study is simple and maintenance-free. It is expected to address the thermal management issues of electronic devices that cannot use active cooling or operate in thin-air environments.

Numerical evaluation of the impact of sandbars on cross-shore sediment transport and shoreline evolution

Nearshore nourishments are a common intervention used to mitigate sediment deficits in coastal areas experiencing erosion problems. This coastal intervention involves placing nourished sediments in the submerged zone of the beach profile to form an artificial submerged sandbar which are then distributed by natural forces occurring in the coastal zone. Coastal processes that control the morphological evolution of coastal zones operate on several spatial and temporal scales (seconds to years) and can be divided into cross-shore and longshore components. Usually, the numerical models that simulate the evolution of cross-shore profiles due to sediment transport within the profiles, are related with short to medium-term events (days to months), and shoreline evolution models, that allow for long-term analysis (years to decades), are typically only considering longshore sediment transport. Describing all the processes in a single numerical model is complex and computationally demanding, and therefore, the numerical models are typically focused on specific processes, categorized by their temporal and spatial scales. This article presents a numerical study focused on medium to long-term numerical modelling of coastal zone evolution, examining the combined effects of cross-shore and longshore sediment transport processes of sediment transport. The model incorporates two simplified numerical models: LTC - Long Term Configuration, for shoreline evolution and CS-Model, for cross-shore sediment exchanges. Applied to nine different sandbar scenarios, model results revealed that disturbances in sandbar volume tend to return to equilibrium through cross-shore sediment transport processes. In situations that considered a constant sandbar volume alongshore, the longshore effects are null, because the volume entering in the coastal domain is equal to the volume leaving, and the sediment balance is only dependent of the cross-shore processes. Variable sandbar volume alongshore leads to impacts on shoreline position due to longshore sediment transport gradients generated by the sandbar disturbance. The results demonstrate the potential of the proposed combined model for medium to long-term projections, allowing for the interpretation of how physical aspects of nearshore nourishments evolve. These aspects include sandbar volume, shoreline position, berm width, and shoreline displacements induced by cross-shore and longshore sediment transport processes. These parameters aid in understanding sandbar-beach sediment dynamics, which is valuable for supporting coastal management, particularly in the development and design of shoreface sand nourishments, enabling the optimization of sand resources.

Shaking table test and control effect analysis of structure with negative stiffness damped outrigger

A shaking table test was conducted on a negative stiffness damped outrigger (NSDO) structure, designed based on a real engineering project, to gain insights into the practical performance of the NSDO under earthquakes when equipped with nonlinear negative stiffness devices (NSD) and dampers. A low-friction NSD was designed, built, and verified by experiments to mitigate the potential issue adversely affecting its performance. The shaking table tests showed that NSD effectively increases the maximum deformation of the damper under moderate earthquakes. Nevertheless, the NSD had no influence on the initial and dynamic stiffness of the NSDO structure when the NSD was not activated due to low displacement. With the bell-shaped damping model to match modal damping ratios, a simplified fishbone numerical model was developed to simulate the response of the NSDO structure and to study the control effect of the NSDO through parametric analysis. The results revealed that the modal damping ratios were not uniform from mode to mode, and an inaccurate higher-mode damping ratio would significantly affect the response predictions during NSDO design. The initial tangential negative stiffness of the nonlinear NSD could be used to analyze the control effect under moderate earthquakes, while the secant stiffness was necessary for severe earthquakes. In addition, a combined seismic reduction curve was proposed for a two-level seismic mitigation analysis.

Modulation of Tropical Cyclogenesis by Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves

Abstract Tropical cyclone numbers can vary from week to week within a hurricane season. Recent studies suggest that convectively coupled Kelvin waves can be partly responsible for such variability. However, the precise physical mechanisms responsible for that modulation remain uncertain partly due to the inability of previous studies to isolate the effects of Kelvin waves from other factors. This study uses an idealized modeling framework—called an aquaplanet—to uniquely isolate the effects of Kelvin waves on tropical cyclogenesis. The framework also captures the convective-scale dynamics of both tropical cyclones and Kelvin waves. Our results confirm an uptick in tropical cyclogenesis after the passage of a Kelvin wave—twice as many tropical cyclones form 2 days after a Kelvin wave peak than at any other time lag from the peak. A detailed composite analysis shows anomalously weak ventilation during and after (or to the west of) the Kelvin wave peak. The weak ventilation stems primarily from anomalously moist conditions, with weaker vertical wind shear playing a secondary role. In contrast to previous studies, our results demonstrate that Kelvin waves modulate both kinematic and thermodynamic synoptic-scale conditions that are necessary for tropical cyclone formation. These results suggest that numerical models must capture the three-dimensional structure of Kelvin waves to produce accurate subseasonal predictions of tropical cyclone activity. Significance Statement Anticipating active tropical cyclone periods several weeks in advance could help mitigate the loss of lives and property due to these phenomena. Recent studies suggest that a type of tropical cloud cluster—known as convectively coupled Kelvin waves—can promote tropical cyclone formation. Kelvin waves travel around the world and can be detected days to weeks in advance. We use a simplified numerical model to isolate the effects of Kelvin waves on tropical cyclone formation. Our unique approach confirms that tropical cyclones are more likely to form 2 days after a Kelvin wave than before the wave. We also demonstrate that—contrary to previous perception—the enhancement of tropical cyclogenesis is due to both more moisture and weaker wind currents following the waves.

Analytical and numerical models to predict the shape of incident pulse in split-Hopkinson bar experiments

In typical split-Hopkinson pressure bar experiments (SHPB), the striker bar impacts the incident bar via discs made from soft materials such as copper. These discs, also called pulse shapers, are used (i) to eliminate the high frequency components of the incident pulse, (ii) to obtain a finite rise time of the incident pulse and (iii) to obtain a constant strain rate. Although these pulse shapers have been used for over decades in SHPB experiments, no analytical solutions or simple models are available that can predict the incident pulse as a function of the striker velocity, pulse shaper geometry and material parameters. Assuming that the pulse shaper is a rigid-linearly hardening material, we derive the analytical solution for the incident pulse when the rise time of the incident pulse is less than twice the time taken for a longitudinal wave to travel along the length of the striker. For larger rise times, we additionally assume that the striker is rigid to obtain a simple numerical model to predict the incident pulse in the presence of a pulse shaper. Both these models are validated against numerical simulations and experiments to demonstrate their accuracy.

Seismic performance of friction damped posttensioned steel frame equipped with SMA strands

The post-tensioned friction dissipating (PTFD) connection for steel frames has drawn significant attention from researchers due to its excellent seismic performance. A simplified numerical algorithm suitable for modeling the SMA strands is proposed. The simplified numerical model of the SMA-PTFD is established. Parametric analysis is performed based on hysteresis analysis and transient dynamic analysis to reveal the influence of SMA strands on the seismic performance of SMA-PTFD frames. The changing rule of seismic response of SMA-PTFD frames, along with the fmax for SMA strands and the Fmax for the friction device, is systematically investigated. The value of the objective function can be reduced by about 50 % when the fmax is increased from 1 kN to 13 kN. The fundamental frequency is 1.25 Hz for three analyzed conditions. The value of the second frequency is significantly affected by Fmax. The values of the second frequency are 1.5 Hz, 1.58 Hz, and 1.42 Hz. The characteristics of seismic response, including displacement and cable force, are deeply studied. The seismic response is also investigated in the frequency domain. The results presented in this work reveal the collaborative energy dissipation mechanism of the friction device and SMA strands.

An experimental and numerical investigation on the flexural strengthening of full-scale corrosion-damaged RC columns using UHPC layers

When exposed to chloride-rich environments, reinforced concrete (RC) structures have serious concerns about rebar corrosion. In this study, a strengthening method was developed for RC columns with corrosion damage. Five full-scale RC columns with the same dimensions and rebar arrangements were experimented under reversed cyclic loading, where an axial stress equal to 1 MPa was applied to the specimens. Out of the five test specimens, two specimens underwent an average of 10 % rebar corrosion (Group 1), another two specimens underwent an average of 15 % rebar corrosion (Group 2), and one specimen acted as the sound specimen. One specimen from each group was retrofitted with 50 mm thick ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) layers. The experimental outcomes showed that reinforcement corrosion reduced ductility and maximum load-carrying capacity (MLC) significantly. The ductility and MLC of the specimen with 15 % rebar corrosion was decreased by 17 % and 9.2 %, respectively, compared to the sound specimen. However, the 15 % corroded specimen strengthened with UHPC layers displayed superior structural performance, for example, the MLC was increased by 24 % compared to the sound specimen. The performance of the strengthening scheme was evaluated using important performance indices, i.e., MLC, ductility, stiffness degradation, energy absorption, curvature distribution, etc. A simplified numerical model was developed and verified with experimental results. Experimental and numerical results revealed that the proposed approach can be very effective in strengthening corrosion-damaged RC columns.

Effect of joint-slippage on transmission tower performance with a simplified model of bolted joints

ABSTRACT Bolted joint behaviour is a key parameter in predicting transmission tower performance. Various types of joints are based on the number of bolts and their configuration. However, a few types of these joints were tested or modelled. In the present study, the load-deformation response of transmission tower joints as a joint behaviour was predicted using a simplified numerical model. Then, available experimental load-deformation responses of joints were used to verify the results of the proposed model. In the last step, the joint behaviours of a 400 kV transmission tower were predicted with the proposed numerical model. Then, the evaluation of the tower’s response was done with a numerical model in ABAQUS under testing loading conditions. Lastly, the deformation of a full-scale tested tower was compared with the numerical results. The numerical model results show a good agreement with the experimental results. The ultimate strength and its corresponding displacement at the full-scale model are predicted with an error of about 4%. Moreover, the failure mode of the transmission tower was not affected by the behaviour of the joints.

Joint Bayesian estimation of process and measurement noise statistics in nonlinear Kalman filtering

Bayesian filtering aims at sequentially estimating the states and parameters in nonlinear dynamical systems, and finds applications in a variety of engineering fields. Extended and unscented Kalman filter are popular choices for this purpose as they typically achieve a good trade-off between computational complexity and accuracy, while still quantifying posterior uncertainty. However, the accuracy of the identified states and parameters, both in terms of their posterior mean and variance, is heavily influenced by the assumed statistics of both the process and measurement noise terms. Therefore, learning the noise characteristics becomes an essential aspect of Bayesian filtering, but is non-trivial especially in cases where process and measurement noise statistics are jointly non-identifiable. This article proposes a methodology that decomposes measurement and process noise learning in a fully Bayesian setting. For measurement noise estimation, we improve upon a Bayesian method that leverages conjugacy of the inverse-Wishart distribution with respect to the Gaussian likelihood model. For process noise estimation, Bayesian model averaging is coupled with a mutation scheme to compare the performance of competing models while exploring high-probability regions in the space of the unknown process noise variance. The algorithm is first tested on simple numerical models for both state estimation and parameter learning, highlighting the superior accuracy of the proposed measurement noise correction and the benefits of decoupling process and measurement noise learning in non-identifiable settings. Then we demonstrate the usefulness of this algorithm in more challenging problems, namely identification of a multi-degree-of-freedom system under unmeasured excitation, and modeling of the highly nonlinear response of a full-scale bridge pier using experimental data.

A numerical approach to levitated superconductors and its application to a superconducting cylinder in a quadrupole field

Abstract Magnetically levitated superconductors in the Meissner state can be utilized as micro-mechanical oscillators with large mass, high quality factors and long coherence times. In previous works analytical solutions for the magnetic field distribution around a superconducting sphere in a quadrupole field have been found and used to derive the trap parameters, while non-spherical geometries have only been investigated in a few idealized cases. However, superconductors of almost arbitrary shape can be used as levitators in a magnetic trap and, as the trap’s properties depend strongly on the superconductor’s shape, allow for a wider parameter regime to be accessed. Finite element models are suitable to obtain the field distribution around arbitrarily shaped superconductors in arbitrary fields, but have not yet been used widely in the context of levitated superconductors. Here we present a simple numerical model for this purpose and use it to calculate the field distribution around cylindrical superconductors in a quadrupole field and to evaluate the trap parameters. We find that the cylindrical shape, compared to spherical levitators, allows for substantially higher trap frequencies and coupling strengths. This in turn reduces the demands on vibration isolation and significantly eases the requirements for feedback cooling to the ground state. The numerical model is provided in a file repository and can easily be adapted to various geometries and trap fields.