Wave Simulation Research Articles

Hydrodynamic performance study of floating photovoltaic arrays with multiple floating bodies

In the context of the global transition to renewable energy, floating photovoltaic systems have garnered significant attention as an innovative method of energy utilization. To investigate the impact of different arrangements of floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems on hydrodynamic performance, fully coupled numerical simulations of wind, wave and current were conducted in ANSYS-AQWA for three arrangements: rectangular array, linear array, and honeycomb-like array. The analysis focused on the six degrees of freedom motions and maximum mooring force under operational and survival conditions. It can be found that the rectangular array exhibits the strongest system stability, effectively reducing the mooring force and showing insensitivity to variations in load incident angles. These findings provide a theoretical foundation and engineering guidance for the design of FPV systems, offering substantial practical application value.

Simulation of time-invariant three-dimensional Freak waves and their scattering identification based on the JONSWAP spectrum and Donelan direction function

Abstract The results of recent maritime accident investigations show that many maritime accidents are related to the attack of freak waves, which can sink ships instantaneously with colossal energy. To identify and forecast freak waves accurately and avoid the danger of freak waves to marine structures and people, we have conducted further research on freak waves. In this paper, we propose an efficient time-invariant three-dimensional (3-D) freak wave computational model to study the scattering characteristics of time-invarian 3-D freak waves and obtain a more explicit identification of their scattering differences. First, this paper adopts linear superposition method to simulate a 3-D random rough sea surface based on the JONSWAP wave spectrum and Donelan directional distribution function. Moreover, we analyze the effect of different angular frequencies on the simulated sea surface. At the same time, the Monte Carlo method is used to further simulate the capillary waves based on the random sea surface, and this method vastly improves the computational accuracy of the random sea surface. Then, based on the two-wave train superposition wave energy focusing mode, a numerical calculation method of time-invariant 3-D freak waves is proposed, and the time-series evolution process of 3-D freak waves is simulated. Finally, the backscattering coefficients of the 3-D freak wave surface are calculated using the two-scale method, and the electromagnetic scattering characteristics of the freak wave surface under different evolution stages, wind speeds, and radar incidence angles are analyzed. By this method, we conclude that the recognition of freak waves is more accurate under medium-high wind speed and significant incidence angle conditions. The experiments show that the research in this paper can identify and predict freak waves more effectively, further improve the forecast accuracy of future freak waves, and also have some application value for freak wave risk warnings.

A Workflow for Creating Gastric Computational Models from SPARC Scaffolds

In-silico studies are an ideal medium to model and improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying gastric motility in health and disease. In this study, a workflow to create computational models of the stomach was developed using SPARC scaffolds. Three anatomically based finite element method (FEM) models of the rat stomach incorporating experimental measurements of muscle layer thickness and fiber orientations across the stomach were developed: (i) 2D (surface) FEM model with no thickness, (ii) 3D (volume) FEM model with a fixed thickness across the longitudinal and circular muscle layers, and (iii) 3D (volume) FEM model with varying thickness across the longitudinal and circular muscle layers. The three FEM models were subsequently used in whole-organ slow wave simulations and the impact of anatomical details on the simulation outcomes was investigated. The 3D FEM model with varying thickness was the most computationally expensive, while the 2D FEM model provided the fastest solution (a 200 s simulation took 8 min vs. 38 h to solve). The spatiotemporal profiles of the slow wave activation and propagation in the three FEM models were in good agreement. The largest temporal difference of 1 s in cellular activation was observed between the 2D FEM model and the varying thickness 3D FEM model in the most distal-stomach regions. These FEM models and developed workflow will be used in in-silico studies to improve our understanding of the structure-function relationship in the stomach and identify the optimal parameters of electrical therapies, an alternative treatment for the motility disorders in the stomach. In addition, the developed workflow can be readily used to generate computational models of other organs using SPARC scaffolds.

Construction Of Ocean Wave Generator Test Rig for Wave Energy Harvesting

This study focuses on developing and enhancing a Wave Generator Mechanism utilizing the Scotch yoke mechanism for simulating waves. The research investigates the incorporation of a carefully designed artificial slope into the Scotch yoke system, shedding light on its practical use and effectiveness in mimicking wave patterns. The paper outlines the detailed methodology and production process, analysing the essential components, materials, and factors necessary for precise wave simulation. Through experimentation, it is demonstrated that waves can be successfully generated in a controlled setting, enabling energy dissipation without any wave reflection. The study highlights the efficiency of the integrated mechanism in replicating natural fluid dynamics, offering a cost-efficient, dependable, and adaptable solution for wave simulation systems in scientific and industrial fields. The research concludes by discussing potential future advancements and providing key references for further investigation.

The research on the applicability of different typhoon wind fields in the simulation of typhoon waves in China’s coastal waters

Typhoon waves possess significant destructive potential, and their numerical simulation relies on accurate sea surface wind fields. An evaluation of different combinations of the radial air pressure distribution coefficient B and the radius of maximum wind speed (Rmax) in the Holland wind field (HWF) model was conducted to determine the optimal configuration. The HWF and the ERA5 wind field (EWF) were used as input wind fields to drive the typhoon wave model for China’s coastal waters. Validation results indicated that neither wind field accurately reflected real conditions; therefore, a hybrid wind field (HBWF) was created by combining HWF and EWF using weighting coefficients that vary with the radius of wind speed to enhance accuracy. Simulation results showed that the HBWF improved the accuracy of significant wave heights (SWHs), with a mean relative error of 25.29%, compared to 32.48% for HWF and 27.94% for EWF. Additionally, HBWF also demonstrated the best performance in terms of root mean square error (RMSE) and consistency index. Overall, the HBWF enhances the simulation accuracy of typhoon waves in China's coastal waters.

Validation of OpenFOAM with respect to the elementary processes involved in the generation of waves by subaerial landslides

This study presents a validation of the OpenFOAM multiphase solver (i.e., multiphaseInterFoam) with respect to the elementary processes involved in the simulation of waves generated by high mobility subaerial landslide with a specific focus on the computation of energy terms. These processes include slide flow over a slope, impulse wave generation, wave dispersion, wave propagation and breaking. The simulations are conducted in 2D. The results allow to determine the minimum number of cells and the appropriate model tuning to reach acceptable accuracy while maintaining the computation time in a reasonable limit. To respect energy conservation, the choice of the turbulence model appears critical. Only, with a turbulence including a buoyancy term in the equations to account for the multiphase flow, and optimized initial values of the turbulence model parameters, could be the energy components of the flow accurately calculated. This study highlights the complexity of the phenomenon and the care with which, simulations should be conducted for the accurate computation of the energy transfers in the context of subaerial landslides.

Simulation of spatially varying non-stationary seismic waves using random frequencies and non-uniform fast fourier transform

The simulation of spatially varying non-stationary seismic waves is a crucial consideration for the seismic analysis of engineering structures. The traditional approach often incurs substantial computational expenses and suffers from low efficiency due to the extensive implementation of large-scale matrix factorizations at numerous sampling points in both time and frequency domains. In this study, an enhanced approach is developed for the efficient simulation of non-stationary seismic waves. The core of this approach lies in the utilization of random frequency sampling coupled with time-domain interpolation to reduce matrix factorizations, and non-uniform fast Fourier transform for expediting the summation of trigonometric functions. A parametric analysis is conducted to investigate the effect of vital parameters, including the decoupling strategy of time-frequency spectrum, the number of random frequencies, and the number of interpolation knots over time, on both the efficiency and accuracy of the enhanced approach. Consequently, the preferred values for these parameters are determined. By considering the simulation of seismic waves acting on a group of bridges, the enhanced approach is validated in the view of correlation functions. The results demonstrate a high level of fidelity of the simulated seismic waves and proves the effectiveness of the enhanced approach in the efficient simulation of spatially varying non-stationary earthquake ground motions. The developed approach can be used for the simulation of non-stationary seismic waves for a wide range of engineering structures.

A robust numerical method for the generation and propagation of periodic finite-amplitude internal waves in natural waters using high-accuracy simulations

Abstract. The design and implementation of boundary conditions for the robust generation and simulation of periodic finite-amplitude internal waves is examined in a quasi two-layer continuous stratification using a spectral-element-method-based incompressible flow solver. The commonly used Eulerian approach develops spurious, and potentially catastrophic small-scale numerical features near the wave-generating boundary in a non-linear stratification when the parameter A/(δc) is sufficiently larger than unity; A and δ are measures of the maximum wave-induced vertical velocity and pycnocline thickness, respectively, and c is the linear wave propagation speed. To this end, an Euler–Lagrange approach is developed and implemented to generate robust high-amplitude periodic deep-water internal waves. Central to this approach is to take into account the wave-induced (isopycnal) displacement of the pycnocline in both the vertical and (effectively) upstream directions. With amplitudes not restricted by the limits of linear theory, the Euler–Lagrange-generated waves maintain their structural integrity as they propagate away from the source. The advantages of the high-accuracy numerical method, whose minimal numerical dissipation cannot damp the above near-source spurious numerical features of the purely Eulerian case, can still be preserved and leveraged further along the wave propagation path through the robust reproduction of the non-linear adjustments of the waveform. The near- and far-source robustness of the optimized Euler–Lagrange approach is demonstrated for finite-amplitude waves in a sharp quasi two-layer continuous stratification representative of seasonally stratified lakes. The findings of this study provide an enabling framework for two-dimensional simulations of internal swash zones driven by well-developed non-linear internal waves and, ultimately, the accompanying turbulence-resolving three-dimensional simulations.

Multidomain finite-difference and Chebyshev pseudospectral hybrid method for elastic wave simulation: two-dimensional case

Multidomain finite-difference and Chebyshev pseudospectral hybrid method for elastic wave simulation: two-dimensional case

Optimizing Particle Density for Accurate Wave Simulation: A Comparative Study of Non-Breaking and Breaking Wave Conditions

This study investigates the optimal particle density for accurate wave simulation in non-breaking and breaking wave conditions using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH). Simulations were conducted using various particle densities, or particles per wavelength, to evaluate their impact on simulation accuracy and computational efficiency. In tests involving regular, non-breaking waves, particle densities in the range of np per L = 560 to 800 were found to provide satisfactory accuracy and computational efficiency. Increasing the particle density beyond np per L = 800 for more complex setups involving breaking waves did not significantly improve accuracy but resulted in much higher computational costs. Overall, the range of np per L = 560 to 800 offers the best balance between accuracy and efficiency, making it a practical choice for simulations with limited resources. This study underscores the trade-offs between accuracy and computational demand, providing guidance on the selection of particle density for various wave simulation scenarios.

Theoretical and numerical investigation of an ultra-broadband near-perfect absorption in auxetic metamaterials

In this paper, we present and numerically investigate an auxetic metamaterial absorber based on vanadium dioxide (VO2), achieving more than 90% absorption of the incident terahertz (THz) waves between 4.15 THz to 8.43 THz with an average absorption of 98.4%. To our knowledge, the absorption bandwidth is higher than previously reported VO2-based absorbers. The proposed absorber contains two VO2 based resonator rings placed diagonally at the top of the dielectric substrate in such a way as to create an auxetic shape and provide more design space than the existing absorbers. Considering the vector nature of electromagnetic fields in three-dimensional space, numerical analysis is performed while keeping the phase-changing material VO2 in the metallic state. According to the full wave simulation, it is shown that under normal incidence, the proposed absorber provides almost flat and near-unity absorption, which covers from 4.82 THz to 7.53 THz. We describe the physical mechanism of the absorber through impedance matching theory, and the absorber performance is evaluated by observing the electric field distributions at various frequencies. The proposed structure also exhibits a satisfactory tunable range from 2% to 100%, which may satisfy the requirements of re-configurable metamaterial absorbers. We also show that the absorber provides better wide-angle absorption performance than the existing VO2-based models for both transverse polarization i.e., transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes. Owing to the higher absorption bandwidth and better tunable range, the proposed auxetic metamaterial has great potential applications in THz imaging, detectors, and sensing.

Dynamic interaction patterns of oblique detonation waves with boundary layers in hypersonic reactive flows

Due to their high thermal cycle efficiency and compact combustor, oblique detonation engines hold great promise for hypersonic propulsion. Previous numerical simulations of oblique detonation waves have predominantly solved the Euler equations, disregarding the influence of viscosity and boundary layers. This work aims to study how the interaction between the oblique detonation wave and the boundary layer influences the detonation wave structures in confined spaces. Two-dimensional numerical simulations considering detailed chemistry are performed in a stoichiometric H2/air mixture. The results indicate that the wedge-induced oblique detonation wave generates a strong adverse pressure gradient upon impacting the upper wall, leading to boundary layer separation. The separation zone subsequently induces an oblique shock wave near the upper wall, and an increase in separation angle will cause the transition from an oblique shock wave to an oblique detonation wave. The formation of the separation zone reduces the actual flow area and may even lead to flow choking; its obstructive effect is similar to that of the Mach stem in inviscid flow. To establish a connection between the viscous recirculation zone and the inviscid Mach stem, we introduce a dimensionless parameter, η, based on the inviscid assumption. It is defined as the ratio of the inviscid Mach stem height to the channel entrance height. This parameter can be used to identify three wave systems in a viscous flow field: separation shock-dominated wave systems, separation detonation-dominated wave systems, and unstable Mach stem-dominated wave systems. Among these, the appearance of detonation Mach stems leads to flow choking, and the shock-detonation wave system continually moves upstream, ultimately causing the failure of the oblique detonation combustion. The findings of this study provide new insights into the investigation of the influence of viscosity on the flow structure of oblique detonation waves.

Characterizing a device for easy simulation of compression waves induced by trains passing through tunnels

When a high-speed train enters a tunnel, an initial compression wave (ICW) is generated, which radiates out as it propagates lengthways through the tunnel to the exit, forming an uncomfortable micro-pressure wave (MPW). The aim of this research is to develop a scaled device to quickly simulate this aerodynamic phenomenon. Our device achieves this by using the instantaneous release of high-pressure air in the chamber. In the first part of the paper, the reliability of this device is verified by various methods, including an airtightness check, calibration of transducers, and repeatability experiments. Next, the mapping of the parameters of the device to engineering values is discussed. The propagation process of the ICW and the pressure fluctuations in the tunnel are then analyzed, and the discussion centers around a control variable case. Finally, the MPW generated near the tunnel exit is explored and acoustically evaluated. It is found that the initial pressure in the chamber, the opening voltage, and the number of solenoid valves in the experiment can be mapped to the train speed, the characteristic length of train nose, and the blockage ratio, respectively. When the pressure amplitude of the ICW is higher, there will be a certain steepening phenomenon in the propagation process. The pressure fluctuation cycle in the tunnel is calculated as 4× tunnel length/wave velocity, and the amplitude of fluctuation decays exponentially over the cycles. In most cases, the sound pressure level of MPWs near the tunnel exit exceeds the hearing threshold, based on the auditory properties of the human ear.

Nonlinear incompressible shear wave models in hyperelasticity and viscoelasticity frameworks, with applications to Love waves

General equations describing shear displacements in incompressible hyperelastic materials, holding for an arbitrary form of strain energy density function, are presented and applied to the description of nonlinear Love-type waves propagating on an interface between materials with different mechanical properties. The model is valid for a broad class of hyper-viscoelastic materials. For the Murnaghan constitutive model, shear wave equations contain cubic and quintic differential polynomial terms, including viscoelasticity contributions in terms of dispersion terms that include mixed derivatives uxxt of the material displacement. Full (2+1)-dimensional numerical simulations of waves propagating in the bulk of a two-layered solid are undertaken and analysed with respect to the source position and mechanical properties of the layers. Interfacial nonlinear Love waves and free upper surface shear waves are tracked; it is demonstrated that in the fully nonlinear case, the variable wave speed of interface and surface waves generally satisfies the linear Love wave existence condition c1<v<c2, while tending to the larger material wave speed c1 or c2 for large times.

Development of a flat cutoff probe covered with a dielectric layer for non-invasive plasma diagnostics

Abstract Herein, we investigated the effect of a dielectric film on the transmission spectrum of a bar-type flat cutoff probe (BCP). By conducting electromagnetic wave simulations, we found that placing a dielectric film with a thickness of 1 mm or less on the sensor did not affect the measurement of the BCP under thin sheath condition. However, a film thickness of 1 mm or more results in a low-frequency shift in the cutoff frequency. The shift in the cutoff frequency was related not only to the film thickness, but also to the dielectric constant of the film and sheath width, which could be understood through a circuit model of the BCP. The calculated results were experimentally validated using alumina plates of various thicknesses. Consequently, our findings demonstrate that measuring the electron density on a BCP is feasible even when a dielectric film is deposited, thereby improving the accuracy of the measurement.

Regionalized ensemble estimation of wave periods for assessing wave energy resources across Canada. Part I: Improved wave-period modelling methodology

Large-scale estimations of wave periods are desired for wave energy assessment, ocean engineering, and wave climate research. Long-term global wave data from satellite altimeters are routinely applied to the estimations. However, this is challenged by uncertainties in wave-period models (WPMs), inaccuracies in data, and simplifications in modeling. Additionally, there exists a gap in the comprehensive examination of the variational mechanisms governing wave periods or model performances. As an effort to address them, we innovate a macroscale regionalized ensemble wave-period modeling (MREWPM) method by optimizing four wave-period models, driven by enhanced altimeter-based REWS (regionalized ensemble wave simulation) estimates of wave heights and wind speeds, within a regionalization framework in macroscale water environments. Results show that MREWPM driven by REWS dataset outperforms existing methods and performs better at larger scales (e.g., in eliminating local-scale overestimation). WPMs are more accurate over remote, deep, and windy regions in cool seasons under metrics-, scale- and data-dependent variations of performances with driving factors (mainly geographical features). This study serves as a foundational contribution towards the enhancement of wave-period simulations, the advancement of understanding wave-period dynamics, and the scientific evaluation of wave energy at macroscales.

Simulation of Pressure Waves During Deflagration Combustion of Clouds of Fuel-Air Mixtures

Simulation of Pressure Waves During Deflagration Combustion of Clouds of Fuel-Air Mixtures

The use of gold and magnetite-gold composite nanoparticles for the enhanced detection of Salmonella LT2 cells under photoacoustic flow cytometry

Photoacoustic flow cytometry (PAFC) is an emerging technology that has generated significant interest in several research fields, particularly in bacteremia. The application of functionalised nanoparticles like gold and iron oxide-gold complex (Fe3O4-Au) has been realised to enhance the photoacoustic (PA) detection of bacteria cells under PAFC systems. Inclusively, the bacteria cell concentrations are statistically quantified through the number of time-signal detection counts. This study uses a similar technique by using gold (Au) and magnetite-gold complex (Fe3O4-Au) nanoparticles in the PAFC system to improve the detection of Salmonella LT2 (SLT2) cells under 532 nm laser irradiation, resulting in over a 200 % increase. However, this study’s contribution comes from the post-processing and analysis of PA time signals after exposing various concentrations of SLT2 cells. Upon fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis of time signals, a distinct peak frequency at 2.75 MHz was significantly attributed to SLT2 as its likely acoustic frequency fingerprint, even at its lowest concentrations (10 CFU/ml). Furthermore, an electromagnetic wave simulation (optical scattering and heat transfer in fluids) was employed to distinguish the PA and Photothermal contributions of the nanoparticles in the system. The resulting data consolidates the continuous wave transform (CWT) of the time signal, where 22.5 – 30 µs was strongly affiliated with PA, and 32–40 µs was that of the photo-thermal-acoustic effect—indicating that both signals can be used to detect and potentially confirm the eradication of SLT2 cells. Overall, magnetised Fe3O4-Au nanoparticles yielded more efficiency through its reproducible PA time signals with 0.84 standard deviations, and its 2.75 MHz frequency peak area matches most accurately with the SLT2 cell concentration by 97.3 %.

Geometric Evaluation of an Oscillating Water Column Wave Energy Converter Device Using Representative Regular Waves of the Sea State Found in Tramandaí, Brazil

Aiming to contribute to studies related to the generation of electrical energy from renewable sources, this study carried out a geometric investigation of an oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy converter (WEC) device. The structure of this device consists of a hydropneumatic chamber and an air duct, where a turbine is coupled to an electrical energy generator. When waves hit the device, the air inside it is pressurized and depressurized, causing the air to flow through the duct, activating the turbine. In this sense, the present study used the constructal design method to evaluate the influence of the ratio between the height and length of the hydropneumatic chamber (H1/L) on the mean available hydropneumatic power (PH(RMS)). Fluent software was used to perform numerical simulations of representative regular waves from the sea state in the municipality of Tramandaí, southern Brazil, impacting the OWC. Thus, it was possible to identify the geometry that maximized the performance of the OWC WEC, with (H1/L)O=0.3430, yielding PH(RMS)=56.66 W. In contrast, the worst geometry was obtained with H1/L=0.1985, where PH(RMS)=28.19 W. Therefore, the best case is 101% more efficient than the worst one.

Evaluating the gravitational wave detectability of globular clusters and the Magellanic Clouds for LISA

We used the stellar evolution code bpass and the gravitational wave (GW) simulation code legwork to simulate populations of compact binaries that may be detected by the future space-based GW detector LISA. Specifically, we simulate the Magellanic Clouds and binary populations mimicking several globular clusters, neglecting dynamical effects. We find that a handful of sources should be detectable in each of the Magellanic Clouds, but for globular clusters the amount of detectable sources will likely be less than one each. We compared our results to earlier research and find that our predicted numbers are several dozen times lower than both the results from calculations that used the stellar evolution code bse and take dynamical effects into account, and results from calculations that used the stellar evolution code SeBa for the Magellanic Clouds. Earlier research that compared bpass models for GW sources in the Galactic disk with bse models found a similarly sized discrepancy. We determine that this discrepancy is caused by differences between the stellar evolution codes, particularly in the treatment of mass transfer and common-envelope events in binaries: in bpass mass transfer is more likely to be stable and tends to lead to less orbital shrinkage in the common-envelope phase than in other codes. This difference results in fewer compact binaries with periods short enough to be detected by LISA existing in the bpass population. For globular clusters, we conclude that the impact of dynamical effects is uncertain based on the literature, but the differences in stellar evolution have an effect of a factor of 20 to 40 on the number of detectable binaries.