• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.513-528
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• 2013

A floating Oscillating Water Column (OWC) wave energy converter, a Backward Bent Duct Buoy (BBDB), was simulated using a state-of-the-art, two-dimensional, fully-nonlinear Numerical Wave Tank (NWT) technique. The hydrodynamic performance of the floating OWC device was evaluated in the time domain. The acceleration potential method, with a full-updated kernel matrix calculation associated with a mode decomposition scheme, was implemented to obtain accurate estimates of the hydrodynamic force and displacement of a freely floating BBDB. The developed NWT was based on the potential theory and the boundary element method with constant panels on the boundaries. The mixed Eulerian-Lagrangian (MEL) approach was employed to capture the nonlinear free surfaces inside the chamber that interacted with a pneumatic pressure, induced by the time-varying airflow velocity at the air duct. A special viscous damping was applied to the chamber free surface to represent the viscous energy loss due to the BBDB's shape and motions. The viscous damping coefficient was properly selected using a comparison of the experimental data. The calculated surface elevation, inside and outside the chamber, with a tuned viscous damping correlated reasonably well with the experimental data for various incident wave conditions. The conservation of the total wave energy in the computational domain was confirmed over the entire range of wave frequencies.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.5-10
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• 2016

The structure of the variable liquid column oscillator(VLCO) is analogous to that of the tuned liquid column damper used to suppress oscillatory motion in large structures like tall buildings and cargo ships. VLCO is using the technology which absorbs high potential energy made by process of accelerated motions effect of air spring by installation of inner air chamber. So, the application of VLCO can improve the efficiency of energy than that of wave energy converters made in Pelamis Company. In this research, experiments were performed for the models which have two different liquid column sizes. In order to find out the biggest motion response, two major conditions are taken into account. Two conditions are to open(or close) the valves and to differentiate the height of the liquid column.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.243-248
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• 2011

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.71-104
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• 2012

In this research, a typical tension-leg type of floating platform incorporated with an innovative concept of underwater tuned liquid column damper system (UWTLCD) is studied. The purpose of this study is to improve the structural safety by means of mitigating the wave induced vibrations and stresses on the offshore floating Tension Leg Platform (TLP) system. Based on some encouraging results from a previous study, where a Tuned Liquid Column Damper (TLCD) system was employed in a floating platform system to reduce the vibration of the main structure, in this study, the traditional TLCD system was modified and tested. Firstly, the orifice-tube was replaced with a smaller horizontal tube and secondly, the TLCD system was combined into the pontoon system under the platform. The modification creates a multipurpose pontoon system associated with vibration mitigation function. On the other hand, the UWTLCD that is installed underwater instead would not occupy any additional space on the platform and yet provide buoyancy to the system. Experimental tests were performed for the mitigation effect and parameters besides the wave conditions, such as pontoon draught and liquid-length in the TLCD were taken into account in the test. It is found that the accurately tuned UWTLCD system could effectively reduce the dynamic response of the offshore platform system in terms of both the vibration amplitude and tensile forces measured in the mooring tethers.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.456-466
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• 1994

Experimental investigation was made to study the mechanism of fluid and thermal oscillation phenomena of surface-tension driven flow in a cylindrical liquid column heated from above which is the low-gravity floating zone simulated on earth. Hexadecane, octadecane, silicon oil (10cs), FC-40 and water are used as the test liquids. The onset of the oscillatory thermocapillary convection appears when Marangoni number exceeds its criteria value and is found to be due to the coupling among velocity and temperature field with the free surface deformation. The frequency of temperature oscillation decreases with increasing aspect ratio for a given diameter and Marangoni number and the oscillation level increases with Marangoni number. The flow pattern in the liquid column appears either as symmetric or asymmetric 3-D flow due to the oscillatory flow in the azimuthal direction. The free surface deformation also occurs either as symmetric or asymmetric mode and its frequency is consistent with those of flow and temperature oscillations. The amplitude of surface deformation also increases with Marangoni number.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.74-83
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• 1997

This study is to develop a practical calculation method of hydrodynamic force and motion response on very large floating structures of multiple legs. To investigate the effecr of hydrodynamic interfaction and of free surface on the reaponses of very large floating structures in regular waves, four kind of models are considered, ie. 1, 4, 64, 21248 column with footing. Based upon the results of this study, it is found that the middle parts of very large floating structures have small diffration effects. Therefore only out side parts are used to determine the hydrodynamic forcea for taking into account the effects of interaction.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.185-191
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• 2003

A numerical study on the hydrodynamic properties of a floating flexible breakwater consisting of triple vertical porous membrane structures attached to a floating rigid pontoon restrained by moorings is carried out in the context of two-dimensional linear wave-flexible body interaction theory. The tensions in the triple membranes are achieved by hanging a clump weight from its lower ends. The clump weight is also restrained properly by moorings. The dynamic behavior of the breakwater was described through an appropriate Green function, and the fluid multi-domains are incorporated into the boundary integral equation. Numerical results are presented which illustrate the effects of the various wave and structural parameters on the efficiency of the breakwater as a barrier to wave action. It is found that the wave reflection and transmission properties of the structures depends strongly on the membrane length taking major fraction of water column, the magnitude of tensions on membrane achieving by the clump weight, proper mooring types and stiffness, the permeability on the membrane dissipating wave energy.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.705-709
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• 2008

In the sea various methods have been conducted to capture wave energy which include the use of pendulums, pneumatic devices, etc. Floating devices, such as a cavity resonance device take advantages of both the water motion and the wave induced motions of the floating body itself. The wave energy converter is known commercially as the WAGB(Wave Activated Generator Buoy) and is used in some commercially available buoys to power navigation aids such as lights and horns. This wave energy converter consists of a circular flotation body which contains a vertical water column that has free communication with the sea. A theoretical analysis of this power generated by a pneumatic type wave energy converter is performed and the results obtained from the analysis are used for a real wave energy converter buoy. This paper is shown to have an optimum value for which maximum power is obtained at a given resonant wave period Also, the length of the internal water column corresponds to that of the water mass in the water column. If designed properly, wave energy converter can take advantage not only of the cavity resonance, but also qf the heaving motion of the buoy. Finally, simulation is performed with a LabVIEW program and the simulation results are applied to a wave energy simulator for modifying design data for a wave energy converter.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2018

Column is usually floating on the stone base directly with or without positioning tenon in traditional Chinese timber structure. Vertical load originated by the heavy upper structure would induce large friction force and compression force between interfaces of column foot and stone base. This study focused on the mechanical behaviors of column foot joint with consideration of the influence of vertical load. Mechanism of column rocking and stress state of column foot has been explored by theoretical analysis. A nonlinear finite element model of column foot joint has been built and verified using the full-scale test. The verified model is then used to investigate the mechanical behaviors of the joint subjected to cyclic loading with different static vertical loads. Column rocking mechanism and stress distributions of column foot were studied in detail, showing good agreement with the theoretical analysis. Mechanical behaviors of column foot joint and the effects of the vertical load on the seismic behavior of column foot were studied. Result showed that compression stress, restoring moment and stiffness increased with the increase of vertical load. An appropriate vertical load originated by the heavy upper structure would produce certain restoring moment and reset the rocking columns, ensuring the stability of the whole frame.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.19-27
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• 2002

The motion of a floating OWC chamber in waves is studied taking account of fluctuating air pressure in the air chamber. An atmospheric pressure drop occurs across the upper opening of the chamber which causes not only hydrodynamic but also pneumatic added mass and damping forces to the floating chamber. A velocity potential in the water due to the free surface oscillating pressure patch is added to the conventional radiation-diffraction potential problem. the potential problem inside the chamber is formulated by making use of the Green integral equation associated with the Rankine Green function wile the outer problem with the Kelvin Green function. The two integral equations are solved simultaneously by making use of a matching boundary condition at the lower opening of the chamber to the outer water region. The chamber motion in the frequency domain is calculated for various values of parameters related to the atmospheric pressure drop. The present methods can also be sued for the analysis of air-cushion vehicle motion as well as for the design of a floating OWC wave energy absorber.