A numerical panel method based on the potential flow theory has been refined and applied to the simulations of steady and unsteady cavitating flows inside water-jet pumps. The potential flow inside the water-jet is solved simultaneously in order to take the interaction of all geometries (blades, hub and casing) into account. The integral equation and boundary conditions for the water-jet problem are formulated and solved by distributing constant dipoles and sources on blades, hub and shroud surfaces, and constant dipoles in the trailing wake sheets behind the rotor (or stator) blades. The interaction between the rotor and stator is carried out based on an iterative procedure by considering the circumferentially averaged velocities induced on each one by the other. The present numerical scheme is coupled with a 2-D axisymmetric version of the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solver to evaluate the pressure rise on the shroud and simulate viscous flow fields inside the pump. A tip gap model based on a 2-D orifice equation derived from Bernoulli’s obstruction theory is implemented in the present method to analyze the clearance effect between the blade tip and the shroud inner wall in a global sense. The reduction of the flow from losses in the orifice can be defined in terms of an empirically determined discharge coefficient (CQ) representing the relationship between the flow rate and the pressure difference across the gap because of the viscous effect in the tip gap region. The simulations of the rotor/stator interaction, the prediction of partial and super cavitation on the rotor blade and their effects on the hydrodynamic performance including the thrust/torque breakdown of a water-jet pump are presented. The predicted results, including the power coefficient (P*), head coefficient (H*), pump efficiency (η), thrust and torque coefficients (KT and KQ), as well as the cavity patterns are compared and validated against the experimental data from a series of on the ONR AxWJ-2 pump at NSWCCD. / text

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 153-164.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 187-191).

Thesis (M.Eng.) -- Memorial University of Newfoundland. / Typescript. Bibliography: leaves 122-125. Also available online.

Thesis (M.Eng.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2004. / Bibliography: leaves 184-188.

Hydrodemolition is the use of a high pressure water-jet to remove concrete. It is a new method of concrete removal which is becoming increasing specified by state Departments of Transportation for bridge rehabilitation work. The technical, financial and contractual aspects of using hydrodemolition are examined and a brief explanation of salt induced concrete deterioration in bridges is presented. Interviews were conducted with state DOT engineers, general contractors, specialty hydrodemolition subcontractors and hydrodemolition equipment manufacturers. These interviews identified problems encountered with using hydrodemolition. Possible solutions to these problems are presented. These possible solutions are based on both suggestions made by the persons interviewed and the author. / Master of Science

A maior parte do petróleo explorado no Brasil encontra-se em jazidas marítimas onde a lâmina d’água pode superar os 1000 metros. As descobertas recentes de novos campos de petróleo offshore têm motivado pesquisas nesta área para enfrentar os desafios tecnológicos envolvidos nos processos de exploração do óleo. Para a extração deste material, são comumente empregadas plataformas flutuantes que utilizam um sistema de ancoragem no leito oceânico para sua operação. O presente trabalho estuda uma nova técnica de instalação de âncoras para plataformas marítimas de petróleo, que serve de alternativa e/ou adaptação a técnicas já utilizadas, e que consiste na aplicação de jatos de água para remoção do solo permitindo que a âncora penetre no subleito oceânico. No desenvolvimento do trabalho foi analisado o comportamento de duas argilas (A e B), nas quais o jateamento vertical de água é utilizado para introduzir tubos metálicos na massa argilosa. Os ensaios de jateamento foram realizados em laboratório, utilizando tanques retangulares de dimensões reduzidas com paredes em acrílico, preenchidos com solo. A geometria da cavidade formada pela injeção em cada amostra argilosa foi observada através das paredes dos tanques. A influência da técnica de instalação na adesão solo-estaca foi avaliada através de provas de carga à tração, realizadas no próprio tubo usado no jateamento em cada ensaio, cujos resultados foram comparados com provas de carga em tubos instalados sem o emprego do jateamento. Nos testes com jatos são identificados dois mecanismos de erosão, característicos de argilas com alto índice de vazios: a erosão em massa e a superficial. A máxima profundidade da zona erodida não coincidiu com o eixo do tubo na quase totalidade dos ensaios. A penetração do jato no subleito do solo argiloso reduz com o aumento da profundidade do jato, e também com a resistência da argila. O diâmetro da cavidade na saída do jato sofreu redução com o aumento da profundidade. A geometria da cava erodida em cada argila mostrou ser função da velocidade e do diâmetro do jato, sendo determinadas equações empíricas para estimar suas dimensões. Após a instalação dos tubos empregando a técnica do jateamento, a redução média da adesão solo-estaca na argila A foi de 42% e na argila B foi de 41% em relação à adesão inicial. As análises dos resultados em função da velocidade do jato e da vazão indicaram pequena influência destes parâmetros na variação da adesão do solo ao tubo. / Most of all petroleum produced in Brazil is encountered in marine deposits where the water depth may exceed 1000 meters. Recent discoveries of new offshore oil fields have motivated studies in this area designed to develop new techniques applied to oil exploration. For the extraction of oil deposits floating platforms are commonly used, supported by anchorage systems on the seabed. This work examines a new technique for installing anchors for offshore oil platforms, that can work as alternatives or complement to existing techniques, and consists of applying water jets to remove the soil allowing the anchor to penetrate into the seabed. In this study, the behavior of two clays (A and B) was analyzed during vertical jets used to induce the penetration of metal tubes into the clay. The tests were performed in laboratory using small rectangular tanks with acrylic walls, filled with soil. The geometry of the cavity formed by water injection was observed through the walls of the tanks. The influence of the installation technique in the adhesion mobilized between the clay and the pile shaft was evaluated by tensile load tests, performed in the same tubes used in jetting tests, whose results were compared with load tests on tubes introduced without the jetting technique. In tests with jets two distinct erosion mechanisms have been identified which are considered characteristic of clays with a high void ratio: mass and surface erosion. The maximum depth of eroded area did not coincide with the jet centerline in almost all tests. The jet penetration in the clay bed reduces with increasing depth of the jet, and also with the resistance of the clay. The diameter of the hole at the jet outlet decreased with increasing depth. The geometry of the eroded hole in each clay was shown to be a function of jet velocity and diameter, and empirical equations were developed to estimate these dimensions. After installation of the tubes using the jet technique, the average reduction in the adhesion between the clay and the pile shaft was 42% in clay A and 41% in clay B. Analysis of the results as a function of jet velocity and flow rate indicated small influence of these parameters on the variation of soil-tube adhesion.

A maior parte do petróleo explorado no Brasil encontra-se em jazidas marítimas onde a lâmina d’água pode superar os 1000 metros. As descobertas recentes de novos campos de petróleo offshore têm motivado pesquisas nesta área para enfrentar os desafios tecnológicos envolvidos nos processos de exploração do óleo. Para a extração deste material, são comumente empregadas plataformas flutuantes que utilizam um sistema de ancoragem no leito oceânico para sua operação. O presente trabalho estuda uma nova técnica de instalação de âncoras para plataformas marítimas de petróleo, que serve de alternativa e/ou adaptação a técnicas já utilizadas, e que consiste na aplicação de jatos de água para remoção do solo permitindo que a âncora penetre no subleito oceânico. No desenvolvimento do trabalho foi analisado o comportamento de duas argilas (A e B), nas quais o jateamento vertical de água é utilizado para introduzir tubos metálicos na massa argilosa. Os ensaios de jateamento foram realizados em laboratório, utilizando tanques retangulares de dimensões reduzidas com paredes em acrílico, preenchidos com solo. A geometria da cavidade formada pela injeção em cada amostra argilosa foi observada através das paredes dos tanques. A influência da técnica de instalação na adesão solo-estaca foi avaliada através de provas de carga à tração, realizadas no próprio tubo usado no jateamento em cada ensaio, cujos resultados foram comparados com provas de carga em tubos instalados sem o emprego do jateamento. Nos testes com jatos são identificados dois mecanismos de erosão, característicos de argilas com alto índice de vazios: a erosão em massa e a superficial. A máxima profundidade da zona erodida não coincidiu com o eixo do tubo na quase totalidade dos ensaios. A penetração do jato no subleito do solo argiloso reduz com o aumento da profundidade do jato, e também com a resistência da argila. O diâmetro da cavidade na saída do jato sofreu redução com o aumento da profundidade. A geometria da cava erodida em cada argila mostrou ser função da velocidade e do diâmetro do jato, sendo determinadas equações empíricas para estimar suas dimensões. Após a instalação dos tubos empregando a técnica do jateamento, a redução média da adesão solo-estaca na argila A foi de 42% e na argila B foi de 41% em relação à adesão inicial. As análises dos resultados em função da velocidade do jato e da vazão indicaram pequena influência destes parâmetros na variação da adesão do solo ao tubo. / Most of all petroleum produced in Brazil is encountered in marine deposits where the water depth may exceed 1000 meters. Recent discoveries of new offshore oil fields have motivated studies in this area designed to develop new techniques applied to oil exploration. For the extraction of oil deposits floating platforms are commonly used, supported by anchorage systems on the seabed. This work examines a new technique for installing anchors for offshore oil platforms, that can work as alternatives or complement to existing techniques, and consists of applying water jets to remove the soil allowing the anchor to penetrate into the seabed. In this study, the behavior of two clays (A and B) was analyzed during vertical jets used to induce the penetration of metal tubes into the clay. The tests were performed in laboratory using small rectangular tanks with acrylic walls, filled with soil. The geometry of the cavity formed by water injection was observed through the walls of the tanks. The influence of the installation technique in the adhesion mobilized between the clay and the pile shaft was evaluated by tensile load tests, performed in the same tubes used in jetting tests, whose results were compared with load tests on tubes introduced without the jetting technique. In tests with jets two distinct erosion mechanisms have been identified which are considered characteristic of clays with a high void ratio: mass and surface erosion. The maximum depth of eroded area did not coincide with the jet centerline in almost all tests. The jet penetration in the clay bed reduces with increasing depth of the jet, and also with the resistance of the clay. The diameter of the hole at the jet outlet decreased with increasing depth. The geometry of the eroded hole in each clay was shown to be a function of jet velocity and diameter, and empirical equations were developed to estimate these dimensions. After installation of the tubes using the jet technique, the average reduction in the adhesion between the clay and the pile shaft was 42% in clay A and 41% in clay B. Analysis of the results as a function of jet velocity and flow rate indicated small influence of these parameters on the variation of soil-tube adhesion.

A maior parte do petróleo explorado no Brasil encontra-se em jazidas marítimas onde a lâmina d’água pode superar os 1000 metros. As descobertas recentes de novos campos de petróleo offshore têm motivado pesquisas nesta área para enfrentar os desafios tecnológicos envolvidos nos processos de exploração do óleo. Para a extração deste material, são comumente empregadas plataformas flutuantes que utilizam um sistema de ancoragem no leito oceânico para sua operação. O presente trabalho estuda uma nova técnica de instalação de âncoras para plataformas marítimas de petróleo, que serve de alternativa e/ou adaptação a técnicas já utilizadas, e que consiste na aplicação de jatos de água para remoção do solo permitindo que a âncora penetre no subleito oceânico. No desenvolvimento do trabalho foi analisado o comportamento de duas argilas (A e B), nas quais o jateamento vertical de água é utilizado para introduzir tubos metálicos na massa argilosa. Os ensaios de jateamento foram realizados em laboratório, utilizando tanques retangulares de dimensões reduzidas com paredes em acrílico, preenchidos com solo. A geometria da cavidade formada pela injeção em cada amostra argilosa foi observada através das paredes dos tanques. A influência da técnica de instalação na adesão solo-estaca foi avaliada através de provas de carga à tração, realizadas no próprio tubo usado no jateamento em cada ensaio, cujos resultados foram comparados com provas de carga em tubos instalados sem o emprego do jateamento. Nos testes com jatos são identificados dois mecanismos de erosão, característicos de argilas com alto índice de vazios: a erosão em massa e a superficial. A máxima profundidade da zona erodida não coincidiu com o eixo do tubo na quase totalidade dos ensaios. A penetração do jato no subleito do solo argiloso reduz com o aumento da profundidade do jato, e também com a resistência da argila. O diâmetro da cavidade na saída do jato sofreu redução com o aumento da profundidade. A geometria da cava erodida em cada argila mostrou ser função da velocidade e do diâmetro do jato, sendo determinadas equações empíricas para estimar suas dimensões. Após a instalação dos tubos empregando a técnica do jateamento, a redução média da adesão solo-estaca na argila A foi de 42% e na argila B foi de 41% em relação à adesão inicial. As análises dos resultados em função da velocidade do jato e da vazão indicaram pequena influência destes parâmetros na variação da adesão do solo ao tubo. / Most of all petroleum produced in Brazil is encountered in marine deposits where the water depth may exceed 1000 meters. Recent discoveries of new offshore oil fields have motivated studies in this area designed to develop new techniques applied to oil exploration. For the extraction of oil deposits floating platforms are commonly used, supported by anchorage systems on the seabed. This work examines a new technique for installing anchors for offshore oil platforms, that can work as alternatives or complement to existing techniques, and consists of applying water jets to remove the soil allowing the anchor to penetrate into the seabed. In this study, the behavior of two clays (A and B) was analyzed during vertical jets used to induce the penetration of metal tubes into the clay. The tests were performed in laboratory using small rectangular tanks with acrylic walls, filled with soil. The geometry of the cavity formed by water injection was observed through the walls of the tanks. The influence of the installation technique in the adhesion mobilized between the clay and the pile shaft was evaluated by tensile load tests, performed in the same tubes used in jetting tests, whose results were compared with load tests on tubes introduced without the jetting technique. In tests with jets two distinct erosion mechanisms have been identified which are considered characteristic of clays with a high void ratio: mass and surface erosion. The maximum depth of eroded area did not coincide with the jet centerline in almost all tests. The jet penetration in the clay bed reduces with increasing depth of the jet, and also with the resistance of the clay. The diameter of the hole at the jet outlet decreased with increasing depth. The geometry of the eroded hole in each clay was shown to be a function of jet velocity and diameter, and empirical equations were developed to estimate these dimensions. After installation of the tubes using the jet technique, the average reduction in the adhesion between the clay and the pile shaft was 42% in clay A and 41% in clay B. Analysis of the results as a function of jet velocity and flow rate indicated small influence of these parameters on the variation of soil-tube adhesion.

D.Ing. / The research described in this thesis is an investigation into fundamental aspects of the mechanical excavation of hard rock using free rolling cutters, currently being undertaken at the Chamber of Mines of South Africa Research Organization. The motivation for undertaking this study was provided by the need to improve the effectiveness and operational efficiency of this type of tool with regards to its application in the South African gold mining industry. Earlier work has shown that the use of high-pressure water jets enhances the performance of mechanical cutting in hard rock. To assess the potential of this approach for use in conjunction with free rolling cutters, a series of laboratory tests was conducted using both disc and button type cutters, to determine the relative effects, on cutter performance, of variations in the relevant jet and cutting parameters. The parameters investigated were jet pressure, jet configuration, depth and spacing of cuts and cutting speed. Jets of diameter 1,2 mm were used singly and in combination of 2 and 4 jets at pressures in the range of 5 MPa to 40 MPa which gave flow rates of up to 0,3 lis per jet. Cut spacing, cut depth and cutting speed were varied between 15 mm and 90 mm, 2 mm and 6 mm, and 0,1 mls and 1,0 mls respectively. Tests were carried out on a linear rock cutting machine, purpose built according to specifications prepared from measurements made during underground field trials, which gave it the ability to test full-scale cutters under loading conditions representative of those found in the field. All the tests carried out were performed in the constant penetration, multiple pass (groove deepening) cutting mode, using dressed (smooth) and pre-conditioned (pre-roughened) rock surfaces.