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Small-scale marine propellers operate at low Reynolds numbers, where laminar-turbulent transition of the boundary layer can impact the distributions of pressure and shear stress on the blade surface. Marine propellers operating at low Reynolds numbers are subject to laminar-turbulent transition of the boundary layer, which impacts the distributions of pressure and shear stress on the blade surface. To design efficient propellers for operation at low Reynolds numbers, transitional effects must be included in the evaluations of propeller performance. In this work, transition modeling techniques in Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes computational fluid dynamics (RANS CFD) are utilized to evaluate and design propellers operating at low Reynolds numbers. The Galilean invariant γ transition model with an extension for crossflow transition is coupled to the SSG (Speziale, Sarkar, Gatski) /LRR (Launder, Reece, Rodi) -ω Reynolds stress transport turbulence model, with validation cases performed for flate plate boundary layers, 2-dimensional airfoils, a 3-dimensional wing, and 6:1 prolate spheroids. The performance of the coupled SSG/LRR-ω-γ Reynolds stress transition model for propellers with flow transition is then evaluated using experimental surface streamline and force data from four model-scale marine propellers. A method for the design of low Reynolds number marine propellers is presented using a transition-sensitive lifting line method coupled with the panel method code XFOIL. Initial geometries generated using the lifting-line method are then optimized in RANS CFD using the 2 equation γ-Reθ transition model and an adjoint method to warp the propeller shape to improve the efficiency. Two design studies are performed, including an open water propeller, and a propeller designed for a small autonomous underwater vehicle. / Doctor of Philosophy / Small-scale marine propellers exhibit transition from laminar to turbulent flow in the region near the surface of the blades. Regions of laminar and turbulent flow on the blade surface contribute differently to the overall thrust and torque on the propeller. Prediction of flow transition in the design process for small-scale marine propellers can improve the accuracy of the thrust and torque prediction compared to modeling the flow as purely laminar or turbulent. Propeller thrust and torque can be modeled using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, where transition modeling is accomplished by solving a transport equation for the intermittency γ, which represents the percentage of time the flow in a given location is turbulent. In this work, a transition model is coupled to a high-fidelity full Reynolds stress turbulence model, which solves 6 transport equations to solve for each component of the Reynolds stress tensor. The Reynolds stress tensor represents the turbulent velocity fluctuations in the governing equations solved in the CFD simulation. This coupled transition and turbulence model is then validated using experimental results of flows with a number of different transition mechanisms. The coupled model is then tested with a series of model-scale propellers, with results of the CFD simulations compared to the experimental results. A method for the design of propellers with flow transition is presented which incorporates transition effects. The designs generated by this method are then optimized in a CFD framework which morphs the blade geometry to improve the ratio of the thrust produced by the propeller to the torque, which corresponds to a higher efficiency. Two design cases are presented: a propeller designed for open water operation, and a propeller design for a small autonomous underwater vehicle.

Understanding and resolving the water quality problems that Florida Bay has endured requires an understanding of its salinity drivers. Because salinity is the prime factor that drives estuarine ecosystem, Florida Bay’s ecosystem health depends on the correct salinity balance of the Bay. In this thesis, the Regional Oceanic Modeling System - a hydrodynamic prognostic model -was implemented on Florida Bay and it was tailored for shallow waters. Results show that the model captures most of the salinity spatial and temporal variability of Florida Bay. Furthermore, it establishes the role of the major drivers like evaporation, precipitation, and runoff on Florida Bay’s salinity. The model resolves region specific salinity drivers in all four areas of Florida Bay characterized by their own salinity regimes. The model was also able to reveal the impact of surface runoff on salinity in the later part of the year when evaporation increases. A new technique was developed to estimate the discharge and salinity of unmonitored small creeks north of Florida Bay. Those data were estimated from the relationship between net freshwater flux, runoff, and salinity. Model results revealed the importance of accounting for these small creeks to accurately simulate Florida Bay’s salinity. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Hydrokinetic tidal power is a novel and emergent technology undergoing continuous advancement with much of the progress focused on large utility scale projects. This resource is potentially underutilized because much of the coastal United States, despite having substantial tidal currents, do not have the deep and wide environments required by most of the developing turbine technology. This dissertation includes a detailed characterization of the tidal hydrodynamics for Rose Dhu Island, Georgia used for a tidal energy resource assessment as well as a general feasibility study for tidal estuaries with extensive wetlands. For predictions and evaluation of the estuarine hydrodynamics, data from an existing numerical model of the estuary encompassing the island is utilized. Field measurements in close proximity to the island are used to calibrate the model as well as characterize local hydrodynamic features. After the model calibration, the simulation data is used to evaluate the hydrodynamics. Wetland dominated estuaries commonly have a high degree of non-linear distortion which govern the relative durations and strengths of the tidal stages and thus the overall hydrodynamics and incoming hydrokinetic energy. The Ogeechee Estuary is characterized as ebb dominant with peak ebb and flood volume fluxes near high tide as a result of the increased storage capacity of the wetlands. Lowering the average wetland elevation in the model decreased ebb dominance and quickened the transition from flood to ebb tide. Increased domain friction in the model removed energy from the system and reduced ebb dominance. Enhanced model marsh friction reduced lateral flooding of the wetlands as well as ebb dominance. Localized measurements surrounding the island are analyzed to determine a location near the southwest coast of the island as a hydrokinetic energy hotspot. A kinematic and dynamic analysis is performed using channel transect measurements to identify key physical processes behind the hotspot formation. The hotspot forms due to sub-critical flow acceleration over a singular bump in the topography. High streamwise momentum is further concentrated at the hotspot due to secondary circulation cells across the channel. Flood tide circulation is characterized by two co-rotating cells induced by channel curvature and delineated by the bump. Ebb circulation consists of two counter-rotating cells from flow confluence of two upstream channels. Once the hydrodynamics are understood, the theoretical and technical resource assessment of the island is completed. A sensitivity analysis of hydrokinetic energy and tidal distortion is performed on synthetic data. For a principle constituent and its first harmonic, distortion greatly changes as does the distribution of velocities and energy as the relative phase varies. While the theoretical energy remains consistent, the technical energy can greatly vary. This effect is reduced with the addition semi-lunar variation. Using a simplified analytical method, the maximum average channel power is estimated as 8.80 MW. For the hotspot it is estimated that there is 30.3 MWh available to capture yearly with an average power of 3.46 kW for a turbine with an area of 10 square meters. For the same turbine area with conservative efficiencies, the hotspot could provide a yearly technical energy of 10.9 MWh with an average power of 1.25kW for the island. Due to the complex localized hydrodynamics, both the theoretical and technical resource varies greatly across and along the channel. These considerations are more pertinent when performing a hydrokinetic energy resource assessment in a marsh estuary than for large scale bay-ocean exchange environments, the present industry focus.

I begin this study by presenting an overview of the theory of magnetohydrodynamics and the necessary conditions to justify the fluid treatment of a plasma. Upon establishing the fluid description of a plasma we move on to a discussion of magnetohydrodynamics in both the ideal and Hall regimes. This framework is then extended to include multiple plasmas in order to consider two problems of interest in the field of theoretical space physics. The first is a study on the evolution of a partially ionized plasma, a topic with many applications in space physics. A multi-fluid approach is necessary in this case to account for the motions of an ion fluid, electron fluid and neutral atom fluid; all of which are coupled to one another by collisions and/or electromagnetic forces. The results of this study have direct application towards an open question concerning the cascade of Kolmogorov-like turbulence in the interstellar plasma which we will discuss below. The second application of multi-fluid magnetohydrodynamics that we consider in this thesis concerns the amplification of magnetic field upstream of a collisionless, parallel shock. The relevant fluids here are the ions and electrons comprising the interstellar plasma and the galactic cosmic ray ions. Previous works predict that the streaming of cosmic rays lead to an instability resulting in significant amplification of the interstellar magnetic field at supernova blastwaves. This prediction is routinely invoked to explain the acceleration of galactic cosmic rays up to energies of 10¹⁵ eV. I will examine this phenomenon in detail using the multi-fluid framework outlined below. The purpose of this work is to first confirm the existence of an instability using a purely fluid approach with no additional approximations. If confirmed, I will determine the necessary conditions for it to operate.

Aims. We investigate the suitability of alpha-viscosity in self-similar models for self-gravitating disks with a focus on active galactic nuclei (AGN) disks. Methods. We use a self-similar approach to simplify the partial di ff erential equations arising from the evolution equation, which are then solved using numerical standard procedures. Results. We find a self-similar solution for the dynamical evolution of self-gravitating alpha-disks and derive the significant quantities. In the Keplerian part of the disk our model is consistent with standard stationary alpha-disk theory, and self-consistent throughout the self-gravitating regime. Positive accretion rates throughout the disk demand a high degree of self-gravitation. Combined with the temporal decline of the accretion rate and its low amount, the model prohibits the growth of large central masses. Conclusions. alpha-viscosity cannot account for the evolution of the whole mass spectrum of super-massive black holes (SMBH) in AGN. However, considering the involved scales it seems suitable for modelling protoplanetary disks.

published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Many wave energy convertors are designed to use either vertical (heave) or horizontal (surge) movements of waves. But the frequency response of small heaving buoys and oscillating water column devices shows that they are too stiff and so their resonance is at too short a period. A device moving in the horizontal (surge) direction has less restoring spring and so its resonance is at too long a period. It follows that a device that moved at some intermediate slope angle could have an intermediate value of hydrodynamic stiffness and so be resonant at a variable and desirable part of the wave spectrum. There have been two series of model tests in this work. The first used a simple free-floating model with no power take-off apparatus and with constraint achieved by means of a large inertia plate lying in the slope plane. The second used a rig that constrained the slope movement of the buoy head by means of hydrostatic bearings running on a guide rod set to the chosen slope angle. An external power take-off system was used to simulate a linear damper for absorbing the incident wave energy and control the motion of the model. This thesis firstly studies the potential of varying the slope angle as a way of tuning the natural period of the device to suit useful wave periods. Secondly, it studies the experimental and theoretical power capture ability of models with different slope angles in regular waves in the frequency domain. The hydrodynamic coefficients of the model were determined both experimentally and numerically based on linear hydrodynamic concepts. The power absorption of the models was calculated using the experimental data of the hydrodynamic coefficients and also measured directly. Some control of power take-off was also investigated. Some irregular wave tests were carried out for the 45 degrees slope angle case. The results show that it is feasible to alter the slope angle of the device as a way of tuning its natural period. However, in further studies of the power capture ability for different slope angles, the device shows a very wide bandwidth and high efficiency performance when it is set to 45 degrees slope angle. This suggests that to constrain the device to a 45 degrees slope angle is suitable for most of the sea states.

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