Facilities

Numerical Modeling

Numerical Modeling

Numerical modeling of both natural marine systems as well as manmade systems compliment both full scale field experimentation and physical model testing at the MHL. Numerical analyses provide valuable insight into complex physical processes that warrant deeper investigation. Conversely, numerical modeling studies can also serve to guide both full scale and model experiments. Hence, the synergy offered by this coordinated approach has proven invaluable.

 

Geophysical Modeling

Geophysical hydrodynamic modeling of coastal ocean and Great Lakes circulations are conducted at a variety of scales. These models include wave driven nearshore circulation and sediment transport models, severe wave models and deeper water circulation and pollutant transport models. For example, beach closure and pollutant transport models are based upon specific adaptations of the Princeton Ocean Model (POM). This is a 3-dimensional, primitive equation, time-dependant, sigma-coordinate, free surface circulation model with an imbedded turbulence closure sub-model. It has been successfully implemented to investigate and predict the pollution sources and distributions in Lake St. Clair. The video file demonstrates a numerical prediction of pollution flow from several point sources on Lake St. Clair.

Marine Vessel Modeling

A wide variety of classic floating structure analysis and modeling packages are available at the MHL. These include static and dynamic stability analysis, ship motions and sea keeping predictive models as well as classic maneuvering and hull form optimization design codes. As an example of the MHL's numerical capability, hull form design optimization with respect to propulsion and/or seakeeping is performed utilizing a unique multicriterion evolutionary optimization algorithm, integrated with a variety of standard ship design (ASSET and LEAPS) and fast, physics-based ship hydrodynamic analysis tools (mono- and multi-hull seakeeping and resistance). Automated hull form transformation and generation methodologies, and design optimization methodologies, are an ongoing area of research. Detailed hydrodynamic analyses of flows around ships, offshore structures and geophysical fluid dynamics are performed utilizing the ANSYS family of advanced numerical modeling applications (Multiphysics and FLUENT).

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