With many decades of research devoted to the intriguing nature of vortex-induced vibrations, the offshore industry is constantly looking for new effective solutions in predicting VIV of slender marine structures such as riser pipes. These structures are very sensitive to excitations induced by vortex shedding, which results in vibrations that in certain combinations of waves and current develop into a structural resonance phenomenon known as lock-in. This kind of vibrations can be destructive to some structures and lead to collapse. Many of VIV aspects are far from being understood and advanced modelling is required to investigate the impact of the phenomenon, which significantly affects the service life of marine structures. The main objective of this research is to contribute to the family of semi-empirical models used for prediction of vortex-induced vibrations, with emphasis on low mass ratio elastically supported cylinders capable of moving in cross-flow and in-line directions. In this work a new two degree-of-freedom wake oscillator model has been developed, where vortex-induced lift and drag forces were modelled with two nonlinear self-excited oscillators of van der Pol type. Phenomena exclusive for two degreeof- freedom motion at low mass ratios were examined in detail. Computational fuid dynamics was applied to the problem in order to tune the model parameters. Twodimensional flow past an elastically supported cylinder was considered, and CFD simulation results were used to calibrate the wake oscillator model predictions of the complex fluid-structure interaction.

This study analyzed the ability of computational fluid dynamic software to accurately predict the flow coefficient of three bottom-load ball valves to develop a design which can accurately control flow rate.

In this work, a two-dimensional model representing the vortices that animals produce, when they are flying/swimming, was constructed. A D{shaped cylinder and an oscillating airfoil were used to mimic these body{shed and wing{generated vortices, respectively. The parameters chosen are based on the Reynolds numbers similar to that which is observed in nature (104). In order to imitate the motion of ying/swimming, the entire system was suspended into a water channel from frictionless air{bearings. The position of the apparatus in the channel was regulated with a linear, closed loop PI controller. Thrust/drag forces were measured with strain gauges and particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to examine the wake structure that develops. The Strouhal number of the oscillating airfoil was compared to the values observed in nature as the system transitions between the accelerated and steady states... As suggested by previous work, this self-regulation is a result of a limit cycle process that stems from nonlinear periodic oscillations. The limit cycles were used to examine the synchronous conditions due to the coupling of the foil and wake vortices. Noise is a factor that can mask details of the synchronization. In order to control its effect, we study the locking conditions using an analytic technique that only considers the phases.. The results suggest that Strouhal number selection in steady forward natural swimming and flying is the result of a limit cycle process and not actively controlled by an organism. An implication of this is that only relatively simple sensory and control hardware may be necessary to control the steady forward motion of man-made biomimetically propelled vehicles. / by Cyndee L. Finkel. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

We investigate the dynamics of spontaneous jumps of water drops from electrically charged superhydrophobic dielectric substrates during a sudden step reduction in gravity level. In the brief free-fall environment of a drop tower, with a non-homogeneous external electric field arising due to dielectric surface charges (with surface potentials 0.4-1.8 kV), body forces acting on the jumped drops are primarily supplied by polarization stress and Coulombic attraction instead of gravity. This electric body force leads to a drop bouncing behavior similar to well-known phenomena in 1-g0, though occurring for much larger drops (~0.5 mL). We show a simple model for the phenomenon, its scaling, and asymptotic estimates for drop time of flight in two regimes: at short-times close to the substrate when drop inertia balances Coulombic force due to net free charge and image charges in the dielectric substrate and at long-times far from the substrate when drop inertia balances free charge Coulombic force and drag. The drop trajectories are controlled primarily by the dimensionless electrostatic Euler number Eu, which is a ratio of inertial to electrostatic forces. To experimentally determine values of Eu we conduct a series of drop tower experiments where we observe the effects of drop volume, net free charge, and static surface potential of the superhydrophobic substrate on drop trajectories. We use a direct search optimization to obtain a Maximum Likelihood Estimate for drop net charge, as we do not measure it directly in experiment. For φEu/8π > 1 drops escape the electric field, where φ is a drop to substrate aspect ratio. However, we do not observe any escapes in our dataset. With an eye towards engineering applications we consider the results in light of the so-called low-gravity phase separation problem with a worked example.

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More efficient methods are needed for the in-situ evaluation of mass transfer parameters which describe the movement of solutes through aquifer material. The objective of this study was to develop a method for estimating diffusion rate and capacity coefficients using a single-well, "push-pull" tracer test. The method consists of the pulse-type injection of a test solution into the saturated zone of an aquifer through the screen of an existing monitoring well. This is followed by a resting (diffusion) period, after which the test solution is extracted from the same well. During the extraction phase a concentration breakthrough curve is obtained. The method uses numerical simulations of the extraction phase breakthrough curve to estimate mass transfer parameters. The methodology was evaluated using a series of laboratory-scale experiments which were performed in a Physical Aquifer Model (PAM). The sediment pack contained in the PAM was modified to create an immobile region governed by diffusive processes. Results from four laboratory-scale experiments are inconclusive in determining the ability of the method to determine mass transfer parameters. Experimental difficulties contributed a significant source of error during the method evaluation. The resting period between the injection and extraction phase was to allow diffusion into the initially solute-free immobile region. Evidence suggests solute was introduced into the immobile region by advective processes during the injection phase of the experiments. Additional experimental work is required to evaluate the methodology. This may include either laboratory or field-scale evaluation of the test method. / Graduation date: 1999

Responses of biological indicators of soil quality to winter cover cropping were measured on soil samples collected from 6 commercial growers' fields and two experiment research stations in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The research stations were the North Willamette Research and Extension Center (Aurora, OR), and the Oregon State University Vegetable Farm (Corvallis, OR). The research stations and five on-farm sites compared winter cover crops or winter fallow in rotation with a summer vegetable crop. In one on-farm site, minimum tillage or conventional till following winter cover crops was compared. The objectives of this study were to: 1) monitor changes in soil biological properties under field managed with cover crops; 2) test potential of buried cotton strip as indicator of soil biological activity and as a soil quality index; and 3) assess the degree of correlation between tensile strength and cotton strip weight loss. The major findings were: 1) microbial biomass carbon and ��-glucosidase activity were the most sensitive to cover crop management; 2) cotton strip decomposition was correlated to soil biological properties but was not very sensitive to management changes; and 3) that measuring weight loss was nearly as effective as tensile strength in assessing cotton strip decomposition in soils. / Graduation date: 1999

Graduation date: 1995