scholarly journals DISSIPATION OF WAVE ENERGY IN A SEAWATER OUTFALL CHANNEL

1982 ◽  
Vol 1 (18) ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
K.G. Witthaus ◽  
G. De F. Retief ◽  
G.K. Prestedge ◽  
L.R. Huskins
Keyword(s):  
Physical Model ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Cooling Water ◽  
Head Loss ◽  
Wave Action ◽  
Power Station ◽  
Energy Dissipator ◽  
Rubble Mound

This paper describes the investigation of means of reducing wave action reaching the shoreward end of a power station cooling water outfall channel without resulting in significant head loss to the outflowing water. A variety of conceptual methods of reducing wave action in the outfall channel was examined. A physical model of the outfall was constructed. It was found that a rubble mound wave energy dissipator located in the outfall channel dramatically reduced wave action at the discharge seal pit.

Artificial Intelligence and Rubble-Mound Breakwater Stability

2012 ◽  
pp. 1499-1506
Author(s):  
Gregorio Iglesias Rodriguez ◽  
Alberte Castro Ponte ◽  
Rodrigo Carballo Sanchez ◽  
Miguel Ángel Losada Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
Physical Model ◽  
Model Tests ◽  
Wave Action ◽  
Ann Model ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Wave Flume ◽  
Physical Model Tests ◽  
Rubble Mound ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Rubble Mound Breakwaters

Breakwaters are coastal structures constructed to shelter a harbour basin from waves. There are two main types: rubble-mound breakwaters, consisting of various layers of stones or concrete pieces of different sizes (weights), making up a porous mound; and vertical breakwaters, impermeable and monolythic, habitually composed of concrete caissons. This article deals with rubble-mound breakwaters. A typical rubble-mound breakwater consists of an armour layer, a filter layer and a core. For the breakwater to be stable, the armour layer units (stones or concrete pieces) must not be removed by wave action. Stability is basically achieved by weight. Certain types of concrete pieces are capable of achieving a high degree of interlocking, which contributes to stability by impeding the removal of a single unit. The forces that an armour unit must withstand under wave action depend on the hydrodynamics on the breakwater slope, which are extremely complex due to wave breaking and the porous nature of the structure. A detailed description of the flow has not been achieved until now, and it is unclear whether it will be in the future in view of the turbulent phenomena involved. Therefore the instantaneous force exerted on an armour unit is not, at least for the time being, amenable to determination by means of a numerical model of the flow. For this reason, empirical formulations are used in rubble-mound design, calibrated on the basis of laboratory tests of model structures. However, these formulations cannot take into account all the aspects affecting the stability, mainly because the inherent complexity of the problem does not lend itself to a simple treatment. Consequently the empirical formulations are used as a predesign tool, and physical model tests in a wave flume of the particular design in question under the pertinent sea climate conditions are de rigueur, except for minor structures. The physical model tests naturally integrate all the complexity of the problem. Their drawback lies in that they are expensive and time consuming. In this article, Artificial Neural Networks are trained and tested with the results of stability tests carried out on a model breakwater. They are shown to reproduce very closely the behaviour of the physical model in the wave flume. Thus an ANN model, if trained and tested with sufficient data, may be used in lieu of the physical model tests. A virtual laboratory of this kind will save time and money with respect to the conventional procedure.

Artificial Intelligence and Rubble-Mound Breakwater Stability

2011 ◽  
pp. 144-150
Author(s):  
Gregorio Iglesias Rodriguez ◽  
Alberte Castro Ponte ◽  
Rodrigo Carballo Sanchez ◽  
Miguel Ángel Losada Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
Physical Model ◽  
Model Tests ◽  
Wave Action ◽  
Ann Model ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Wave Flume ◽  
Physical Model Tests ◽  
Rubble Mound ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Rubble Mound Breakwaters

Breakwaters are coastal structures constructed to shelter a harbour basin from waves. There are two main types: rubble-mound breakwaters, consisting of various layers of stones or concrete pieces of different sizes (weights), making up a porous mound; and vertical breakwaters, impermeable and monolythic, habitually composed of concrete caissons. This article deals with rubble-mound breakwaters. A typical rubble-mound breakwater consists of an armour layer, a filter layer and a core. For the breakwater to be stable, the armour layer units (stones or concrete pieces) must not be removed by wave action. Stability is basically achieved by weight. Certain types of concrete pieces are capable of achieving a high degree of interlocking, which contributes to stability by impeding the removal of a single unit. The forces that an armour unit must withstand under wave action depend on the hydrodynamics on the breakwater slope, which are extremely complex due to wave breaking and the porous nature of the structure. A detailed description of the flow has not been achieved until now, and it is unclear whether it will be in the future in view of the turbulent phenomena involved. Therefore the instantaneous force exerted on an armour unit is not, at least for the time being, amenable to determination by means of a numerical model of the flow. For this reason, empirical formulations are used in rubble-mound design, calibrated on the basis of laboratory tests of model structures. However, these formulations cannot take into account all the aspects affecting the stability, mainly because the inherent complexity of the problem does not lend itself to a simple treatment. Consequently the empirical formulations are used as a predesign tool, and physical model tests in a wave flume of the particular design in question under the pertinent sea climate conditions are de rigueur, except for minor structures. The physical model tests naturally integrate all the complexity of the problem. Their drawback lies in that they are expensive and time consuming. In this article, Artificial Neural Networks are trained and tested with the results of stability tests carried out on a model breakwater. They are shown to reproduce very closely the behaviour of the physical model in the wave flume. Thus an ANN model, if trained and tested with sufficient data, may be used in lieu of the physical model tests. A virtual laboratory of this kind will save time and money with respect to the conventional procedure.

A device for measuring forces in a rubble-mound breakwater

1989 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 886-894
Author(s):  
R. D. Scott ◽  
D. J. Turcke ◽  
W. F. Baird
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Physical Model ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Model Analysis ◽  
Wave Action ◽  
Load Cell ◽  
Fundamental Change ◽  
Rubble Mound ◽  
Full Protection

An improved instrumentation scheme has been designed and tested for measuring the generalized forces occurring within armour units in a physical model of a breakwater subjected to wave action. The fundamental change is centered around the concept of a load cell. Compared with previous devices developed by the authors, this new unit has improved sensitivity, full protection from all environmental influences, and a wider range of applicability. These improvements were substantiated by a number of static and hydraulic tests. Key words: breakwaters, armour, model, analysis, instrumentation.

scholarly journals OPTIMIZATION OF THE WAVECAT WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (33) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hernan Fernandez ◽  
Gregorio Iglesias ◽  
Rodrigo Carballo ◽  
Alberte Castro ◽  
Marcos Sánchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Model ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Model Tests ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
Plan View ◽  
Santiago De Compostela ◽  
Wave Energy Converters ◽  
Physical Model Tests ◽  
The Difference

The development of efficient, reliable Wave Energy Converters (WECs) is a prerequisite for wave energy to become a commercially viable energy source. Intensive research is currently under way on a number of WECs, among which WaveCat©—a new WEC recently patented by the University of Santiago de Compostela. In this sense, this paper describes the WaveCat concept and its ongoing development and optimization. WaveCat is a floating WEC intended for operation in intermediate water depths (50–100 m). Like a catamaran, it consists of two hulls—from which it derives its name. The difference with a conventional catamaran is that the hulls are not parallel but convergent; they are joined at the stern, forming a wedge in plan view. Physical model tests of a 1:30 model were conducted in a wave tank using both regular and irregular waves. In addition to the waves and overtopping rates, the model displacements were monitored using a non-intrusive system. The results of the physical model tests will be used to validate the 3D numerical model, which in turn will be used to optimize the design of WaveCat for best performance under a given set of wave conditions.

Cooling Water Studies at Electric Power Station

1969 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-303
Author(s):  
R. Fred Gray ◽  
J. Ben Stephenson
Keyword(s):  
Electric Power ◽  
Cooling Water ◽  
Electric Power Station ◽  
Power Station
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