<p>Due to the slender geometries of aboveground storage tanks, maintaining the stability under wind gusts of these tanks has always been a challenge. Therefore, this thesis aims to provide a through insight on the behavior of tanks under wind gusts using finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis. The present thesis is composed of three independent studies, and different types of analysis were conducted. In Chapter 2, the main purpose is to model the wind loading dynamically and to investigate whether a resonance can be triggered. Research on tanks subjected to static wind load have thrived for decades, while only few studies consider the wind loading dynamically. Five tanks with different height (<i>H</i>) to diameter (<i>D</i>) ratios, ranging from 0.2 to 4, were investigated in this chapter. To ensure the quality of the obtained solution, a study on the time step increment of an explicit dynamic analysis, and a on the mesh convergence were conducted before the analyses were performed. The natural vibration frequencies and the effective masses of the selected tanks were first solved. Then, the tanks were loaded with wind gusts with the magnitude of the pressure fluctuating at the frequency associating with the most effective mass and other frequencies. Moreover, tanks with eigen-affine imperfections were also considered. It was concluded that resonance was not observed in any of these analyses. However, since the static buckling capacity and the dynamic buckling capacity has a relatively large difference for tall tanks (<i>H</i>/<i>D </i>≥ 2.0), a proper safety factor shall be included during the design if a static analysis is adopted. </p> <p> </p> <p>Chapter 3 focus on the effect of an internal pressure generated by wind gusts on open-top tanks. Based on boundary layer wind tunnel tests (BLWT), a significant pressure would be generated on the internal side of the tank shell when a gust of wind blow through an open-top tank. This factor so far has not been sufficiently accounted for by either ASCE-7 or API 650, despite the fact that this internal pressure may almost double the design pressure. Therefore, to investigate the effect of the wind profile along with the internal pressure, multiple wind profiles specified in different design documents were considered. The buckling capacities of six tanks with aspect ratios (<i>H</i>/<i>D</i>) ranging from 0.1 to 4 were analyzed adopting geometrically nonlinear analysis with imperfection using an arc-length algorithm (Riks analysis). Material nonlinearity was also included in some analyses. It was observed that the buckling capacity of a tank obtained using ASCE-7/API 650 wind profile is higher than buckling capacities obtained through any other profiles. It was then concluded that the wind profile dictated by the current North American design documents may not be conservative enough and may need a revision. </p> <p> </p> <p>Chapter 4 investigates how CFD can be applied to obtain the wind pressure distribution on tanks. Though CFD has been widely employed in different research areas, to the author’s best knowledge, only one research has been dedicated to investigate the interaction between wind gusts and tanks using CFD. Thus, a literature review on the guideline of selecting input parameter for CFD and a parametric study as how to choose proper input parameters was presented in Chapter 4. A tank with an aspect ratio of 0.5 and a flat roof was employed for the parametric study. To ensure the validity of the input parameters, the obtained results were compared with published BLWT results. After confirming that the selected input parameters produces acceptable results, tanks with aspect ratio ranging from 0.4 to 2 were adopted and wind pressure distribution on such tanks were reported. It was concluded that the established criteria for deciding the input parameters were able to guarantee converged results, and the obtained pressure coefficients agree well with the BLWT results available in the literature. </p>

The usage of ground-mounted photovoltaic solar panels is increasing, and it is essential to fully understand the wind behavior and loading on the panels, since there is no specific code or guideline for their design in the present. In addition, the University of Ottawa and Carleton University recently developed a new facility, called the Wind Damage Simulator (WDS). This study will allow to understand the flow behavior in the facility, along with the effects of different blower rpm settings on the flow. A CFD study was also conducted, in order to examine the methodology and turbulence models suitable for the flow replicated in this facility, for future research. The newly developed Wind Damage Simulator (WDS) facility was used to examine wind-induced effects on two solar panels attached to a frame. The mean pressure coefficient distribution on the photovoltaic panels was examined for several wind angles of incidence (AOI) and wind speeds. The wind AOI considered were the 0°, 30°, 45°, 180°, 210° and 225°, along with wind speeds ranging from 14 m/s to 42 m/s, with increments of around 2 m/s. The experimental results showed fluctuations in the Cp distribution on the panels, due to the WDS wind flow being highly unstable. The 180° wind AOI led to the highest uplift mean Cp equivalent (Cpeq) value on the panels. The 45° and 180° wind AOI were found to induce a Cpeq of significantly higher magnitude on the first panel compared to the second panel, whereas the 0° and 210° wind AOI induced a significantly higher Cpeq magnitude on the second panel compared to the first panel Cpeq. Moreover, the CFD study provided pressure coefficient distribution on the panels and flow visualization when interacting with the panels surfaces. The LES Dynamic Smagorinsky subgrid scale model was found to be more suitable for the WDS numerical replication than the RANS shear stress transport k-ω turbulence model. The LES model showed the fluctuating pressure coefficients on the panels’ surfaces, induced by the swirls that were formed post interaction of the wind with the panels.

Super-tall buildings located in high velocity wind regions are highly vulnerable to large lateral loads. Designing for these structures must be done with great engineering judgment by structural professionals. Present methods of evaluating these loads are typically by the use of American Society of Civil Engineers 7-10 standard, field measurements or scaled wind tunnel models. With the rise of high performance computing nodes, an emerging method based on the numerical approach of Computational Fluid Dynamics has created an additional layer of analysis and loading prediction alternative to conventional methods. The present document uses turbulence modeling and numerical algorithms by means of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes and Large Eddy Simulation equations applied to a square prismatic prototype structure in which its dynamic properties have also been investigated. With proper modeling of the atmospheric boundary layer flow, these numerical techniques reveal important aerodynamic properties and enhance flow visualization to structural engineers in a virtual environment. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Este trabalho lida com o escoamento incompressível ao redor de pares de cilindros rígidos e imóveis, posicionados de forma alinhada em relação a uma corrente uniforme. São dois os objetivos desta pesquisa: o primeiro é estabelecer relações de causalidade entre características físicas do escoamento e as mudanças observadas nas forças e no campo fluido com as variações do número de Reynolds (Re) e do espaçamento entre os corpos; e o segundo consiste em compreender a influência mútua entre tridimensionalidades e interferência no escoamento. Utilizou-se o método de elementos espectrais para realizar simulações bi e tridimensionais do escoamento. Os espaçamentos entre centros (lcc) analisados vão de 1,5 a 8 diâmetros, e eles são comparados com o caso de um cilindro isolado. A faixa de Re vai de 160 a 320, compreendendo a transição na esteira. O foco foi dado nas instabilidades de pequena escala (modos A e B). Dados referentes ao número de Strouhal, coeficiente de arrasto médio, flutuação do coeficiente de sustentação e correlação axial são apresentados. Com auxílio de visualizações do escoamento, são propostos mecanismos que explicam o fenômeno de interferência, refletido no comportamento das curvas. Os resultados mostraram que simulações bidimensionais são insuficientes para se prever a combinação (Re, lcc) de inversão do arrasto. Verificou-se também que, quando o espaçamento é menor do que o crítico, o processo de transição na esteira se dá de forma diferente do observado para um cilindro isolado. / This work deals with the incompressible flow around pairs of rigid and immovable circular cylinders in tandem arrangements. There are two goals in this research: the first one is to find causality relationships between physical characteristics of the flow and the changes that are observed in the forces and in the flow field with the variation of the Reynolds number (Re) and the distance between the bodies; and the second one is to comprehend the mutual influence between three-dimensional structures and interference. The spectral element method was employed to carry out two- and three-dimensional simulations of the flow. The centre-to-centre distance (lcc) of the investigated configurations varies between 1.5 and 8 diameters, and they are compared to the isolated cylinder case. The Re range goes from 160 to 320, covering the transition in the wake. We focused in the small scale instabilities (modes A and B). Data of Strouhal number, mean drag coefficient, RMS of the lift coefficient and axial correlation are presented. With aid of flow visualizations, we propose mechanisms to explain the interference phenomenon, which is reflected in the behaviour of the graphics. The results show that two-dimensional simulations are not sufficient to predict the (Re, lcc) pair correspondent to the drag inversion point. We also verified that, in the cases where lcc is lower than the critical spacing, the transition in the wake happens in a way different from the one observed in the flow around a single cylinder.

A presente dissertação investiga o comportamento do escoamento em um túnel de cavitação, através de simulações fluido-dinâmicas computacionais, excluindo a bomba de circulação. Para tanto um extenso estudo buscou selecionar a abordagem numérica e configurações de simulação mais adequadas, de uma forma a reproduzir as características hidrodinâmica inerentes à operação do túnel. Portanto, as informações referentes à perda de carga, uniformidade no perfil de velocidade, tendência de cavitação, descolamento e altura da camada limite foram apreciadas. Esse estudo foi direcionado por dados provenientes de métodos empíricos da literatura, resultados experimentais do próprio túnel pesquisado e de outros túneis. Em geral, os resultados foram satisfatórios, pois a perda de carga estimada foi semelhante ao obtido experimentalmente. Além de serem identificados os trechos com efeito desfavorável na uniformidade do escoamento, foram determinadas a distribuição de pressão nas aletas e o perfil de velocidade incidente na bomba. / This study deals with a cavitation tunnel flow (except the pump region) through computational fluid dynamic simulations. Therefore, previously one made a literature survey to aid the selection of the most appropriate techniques and simulation settings to simulate the hydrodynamic characteristics of the tunnel. The pressure drop, uniformity of the velocity profile, existence of cavitation, detachment and height of the boundary layer were evaluated. This study used empirical methods and also experimental results. The results were satisfactory, as long as the estimated pressure drop was close to the one obtained experimentally. In addition, it was forecasted low flow uniformity in some parts of the tunnel, the pressure distribution on the fins and the incident velocity profile at the pump.

No presente trabalho, foi desenvolvido um modelo para o escoamento em reator de membrana do tipo contator ativo, através da abordagem de dinâmica dos fluidos computacional (CFD), utilizando o código comercial ANSYS FLUENT. O modelo incluiu todo o módulo de membrana constituído por uma membrana tubular e um casco metálico. A reação modelo estudada foi a hidrogenação parcial de 1,5-ciclooctadieno, realizada pelo bombeamento da mistura reacional, dissolvida em n-heptano, através da membrana, a partir das extremidades do tubo. Como catalisador, considerou-se a presença de nanopartículas de Pd impregnadas na membrana. O meio poroso foi aproximado por leito granular representado pela equação de Ergun, tendo como parâmetros a porosidade e o tamanho de grão da membrana de alfa-Al2O3 . O valor para o tamanho de grão foi adotado como equivalente ao diâmetro de partícula determinado com uso do código aberto de estereologia ImageJ, do instituto Nacional de Saúde dos Estados Unidos. O modelo de turbulência adotado foi o RNG k-epsilon. Um estudo de sensibilidade incluiu simulações comparando escoamento desprezando reações como escoamento reativo, variação da velocidade, alteração da saída do fluxo e ativação de modelo de turbulência no meio poroso. Foram realizadas simulações de defeitos estruturais na membrana, correspondendo a regiões de porosidade alterada, com e sem perda de sua uniformidade azimutal. Conclui-se que a presença de defeitos estruturais que afetem a uniformidade azimutal da membrana pode resultar em sensível alteração do escoamento em CMRs. / This study focused on the development of a model for the flow in a reactor membrane of the type active contactor, approached through computational fluid dynamics (CFD), using the commercial code ANSYS FLUENT. The model included the entire membrane module, consisted of a tubular membrane and a metal shell. The model reaction studied was the partial hydrogenation of 1,5-cyclooctadiene initiated by the pumping of the reaction mixture, dissolved in n-heptane, through the membrane, from the ends of the tube. As a catalyst, the study considered the presence of impregnated Pd nanoparticles in the membrane. The porous medium was approximated by a granular bed as represented by the Ergun equation, having as parameters the porosity and the grain size of the alfa-Al2O3 membrane. The value for the grain size was adopted as equivalent to particle diameter determined through the open source stereology software ImageJ, of the National Institute of Health USA. The turbulence model used was the RNG k-epsilon. A sensitivity study included simulations of flow neglecting and including reactions, speed variation, change the flow outlet and activation of turbulence model in the porous media. Simulations of structural defects in the membrane were performed, defining regions of porosity changes with and without loss of azimuthal uniformity. The conclusion was that the presence of structural defects that affect the azimuthal uniformity of the membrane can result in marked alteration of the flow regime in CMRs.

Neste trabalho é proposta uma metodologia numérica como ferramenta para avaliação de ambientes térmicos com manequins. A simulação de CFD do ambiente térmico em simulador comercial é integrada à simulação do sistema térmico do corpo humano realizada em código acadêmico. As soluções dos fluxos de calor e temperaturas nas peles são retroalimentadas e a transferência de informações é realizada via arquivo. A geometria do ambiente térmico é simplificada para minimizar os efeitos de problemas com a malha computacional na simulação de CFD, permitindo uma melhor análise do método interativo proposto. O manequim é separado em 15 segmentos cilíndricos representando cabeça, pescoço, tronco, braços, antebraços, mãos, coxas, pernas e pés. Cada segmento é subdividido em quatro quadrantes, totalizando 60 zonas, para capturar assimetrias térmicas e aerodinâmicas. Foi conduzido estudo de validação geométrica de manequim virtual pela comparação de resultados dos coeficientes térmicos obtidos com CFD e resultados obtidos de ensaios experimentais da literatura. A qualidade da malha e o tratamento de parede são discutidos. Os resultados tornam evidente que uma geometria simplificada do manequim é suficiente para estudos e avaliações de ambiente térmico e de conforto térmico quando se utiliza técnicas numéricas de CFD. Os resultados a partir da integração dos simuladores mostram que o método numérico pode ser instável nos segmentos com baixo metabolismo e baixa vazão de sangue, como nos pés e mãos. Pretende-se introduzir na metodologia proposta algum mecanismo que identifique automaticamente este fenômeno, para evitar a divergência do método e tornar a ferramenta mais robusta. / In this work is proposed a new numerical methodology as a tool for thermal comfort evaluation. This method promotes the interaction of the thermal environment simulation and the thermal system of the human body simulation. The commercial CFD simulator FLUENT R and an academician code for human body simulation are used. The solutions are fed back and the transfer is made by file. The geometry of the room is simplified to minimize the effects of problems with the computational mesh in the CFD simulation, allowing a better analysis of the proposed interactive method. The dummy is separated into 15 cylindrical segments representing head, neck, trunk, arms, forearms, hands, thighs, legs and feet. Each segment is subdivided into four quadrants, totaling 60 zones, to capture asymmetries in the heat flux field and temperature field. Was conducted a geometric validation of virtual dummy by comparing results of heat transfer coefficients from literature and CFD simulation. The mesh quality and near wall treatment are discussed. The results show that a simplified geometry of the dummy is sufficient for thermal environment studies and evaluations in CFD simulations. The results from coupled simulations show that the numerical method can be unstable in the segments with low metabolism and low blood flow, as the feet and hands. So, its intended to introduce mechanisms in the methodology to automatically identify this phenomenon and to avoid the divergence of the method to make more robust this methodology.

[pt] O objetivo principal do presente trabalho foi investigar computacionalmente o escoamento e a dispersão de poluentes atmosféricos sobre topografias complexas tridimensionais em escala de laboratório. Foram realizadas simulações numéricas de escoamentos neutros e estavelmente estratificados sobre colinas e também sobre terreno plano. A modelagem matemática, baseada na solução das equações gerais de conservação, inclui o modelo de tensões de Reynolds para a turbulência e um modelo de duas camadas para o tratamento do escoamento na região próxima à parede. O código comercial Fluent (Versão 6.0.12), que emprega o método de volumes finitos, foi utilizado nas simulações computacionais. Os resultados numéricos foram comparados a dados obtidos em experimentos em túnel de vento disponíveis na literatura. Também foram realizadas comparações com resultados obtidos com a utilização do modelo (k menos épsilon) clássico. A comparação entre os resultados obtidos com as diversas modelagens numéricas e os dados experimentais mostrou que a utilização conjunta do modelo de tensões de Reynolds e do tratamento em duas camadas produziu os melhores resultados na predição do escoamento. O desempenho dessa modelagem foi particularmente superior na representação da recirculação no escoamento na região a jusante da colina. Com relação ao cálculo das concentrações, os resultados obtidos foram razoáveis nas regiões mais distantes da fonte quando comparados aos experimentais. Na região mais próxima à fonte emissora, foram calculadas concentrações excessivamente altas ao nível do solo. Estas discrepâncias foram atribuídas ao fato de ter-se utilizado um modelo de difusividade turbulenta isotrópica para os cálculos da dispersão turbulenta do poluente. Ainda assim, os campos de concentrações apresentados mostraram importantes aspectos qualitativos relativos ao problema como, por exemplo, os efeitos da estabilidade atmosférica na dispersão do poluente, que foram adequadamente previstos. / [en] The main objective of the present work was to investigate computationally the flow and the dispersion of atmospheric pollutants over three dimensional complex topographies in laboratory scale. The investigations included the numerical simulation on the neutral and stably stratified flows over hills and flat terrain. The mathematical model was based on the solution of the general conservation equations and included the Reynolds stress model for turbulence and a two layer zonal model for the flow treatment in the near wall region. The commercial code Fluent (Version 6.0.12), which is based on the finite volume method, was employed in the computational simulations. The numerical results were compared to data obtained in wind tunnel experiments, available in the literature. Comparisons were also made with results obtained by employing the standard (k less épsilon) model for turbulence. The comparisons between the experimental data and the numerical results showed that the combined use of the Reynolds stress model and the two layer treatment provided the best results for the flow representation. This modeling approach was particularly superior in representing the flow recirculation on the leeside of the hill. The predicted concentrations results were reasonably good at regions far away from the emission source. In the near source regions, the ground level concentrations were overestimated by the numerical modeling. These discrepancies were attributed to the employment of an isotropic turbulent diffusivity model in the turbulent dispersion calculations. Nevertheless, the calculated concentration fields represented well important qualitative features of PUC Rio.

Thesis (MTech (Mechanical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / A membrane distillation crystallization (MDC) experimental setup was designed, constructed and commissioned with rectangular mixing crystallizer tanks. The advantages and disadvantages of a rectangular mixing tank are compared to the traditional cylindrical mixing tank with baffling by means of a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis in Ansys Fluent. The effect of tank configuration and geometry on the hydrodynamic and mixing characteristics for efficient momentum, solid suspension, heat and mass transfer were investigated. The hydrodynamic conditions in a crystallizer-mixing tank determine the quality of fluid mixing essential for optimal crystallization. Forty-five degree pitched blade turbines (PBT) were used to provide the agitation in the stainless steel rectangular jacketed tanks. Clear polycarbonate replicas of the rectangular tanks were manufactured to visually observe the mixing process in the tanks. Silica particles were used to represent the calcium carbonate crystals in the experiment. The data gathered from these experiments showed that the tanks should be operated between 600 to 750 rpm in the CFD simulations to simulate partial to complete suspension. In the numerical simulations a rectangular tank was compared to a cylindrical tank with baffling of the same volume. The partial differential equations solved in the numerical simulation were the conservation of mass (continuity), conservation of momentum and additional turbulence equations. In order to solve the turbulent fluid flow characteristics, the industry standard two-equation model, namely the K-epsilon model was used. This model was refined by the addition of the Wen-Yu drag model, the Simonin turbulent dissipation and the Simonin et al. turbulence interaction models. The RANS based RNG (k-ε), derived from the instantaneous Navier-Stokes equation was selected as the preferred model to analyse the hydrodynamic flow fields in the tanks. The 3D sliding mesh method was used to compute a time accurate solution. The Eulerian-granular multiphase model was used to predict the degree of solids suspension in the tanks. The efficiency of mixing within the tank was measured by the tank’s ability to keep the crystals in suspension and preventing any particle from settling at the bottom for more than 1-2 second(s). The mixing tanks were initially loaded with 5% v/v, which equates to a loaded height of approximately 10 mm. The simulations were done with the use of the volume fraction function to visually observe the cloud height and gauge the homogeneity and distribution of the particulates within the fluid flow fields. The results from the experimental setup were compared to the CFD simulations to qualify the use of CFD simulations for the comparison of the geometrically different tanks. Lastly, the findings from the CFD simulations were used to compare the tanks and determine if the rectangular tank built for the MDC experiment perform satisfactorily to replace a standard cylindrical tank with baffling for this application.

For aerospace and naval applications where low radiated noise levels are a requirement, rotor noise generated by inflow turbulence is of great interest. Inflow turbulence is stretched and distorted as it is ingested into a thrusting rotor which can have a significant impact on the noise source levels. This thesis studies the distortion of subsonic, high Reynolds number turbulent flow, with viscous effects ignored, that occur when a rotor is embedded in a turbulent boundary layer. The analysis is based on Rapid Distortion Theory (RDT), which describes the linear evolution of turbulent eddies as they are stretched by a mean flow distortion. Providing that the gust does not distort the mean flow streamlines the solution for a mean flow with shear is found to be the same as the solution for a mean potential flow with the addition of a potential flow gust. By investigating the inflow distortion of small-scale turbulence for various simple flows and rotor inflows with weak shear, it is shown that RDT can be applied to incompressible shear flows to determine the flow distortion. It is also shown that RDT can be applied to more complex flows modeled by the Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) equations. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013.