Effects of a flexible net barrier on the dynamic behaviours and interception of debris flows in mountainous areas

Flexible net barriers are a new type of effective mitigation measure against debris flows in valleys and can affect the kinematic energy and mass of debris flows. Here, ten flume tests were performed to study the dynamic behaviours of debris flows with differences in volumes, concentrations(solid volume fraction), and travel distances after interception by a uniform flexible net barrier. A high-speed camera was used to monitor the whole test process, and their dynamic behaviours were recorded. A preliminary computational framework on energy conversion is proposed according to the deposition mechanisms and outflow of debris flow under the effects of the flexible net barrier. The experimental results show that the dynamic interaction process between a debris flow and the flexible net barrier can be divided into two stages:(a) the two-phase impact of the leading edge of the debris flow with the net and(b) collision and friction between the body of the debris flow and intercepted debris material. The approach velocity of a debris flow decreases sharply(a maximum of 63%) after the interception by the net barrier, and the mass ratio of the debris material being intercepted and the kinetic energy ratio of the debris material being absorbed by the net barrier are close due to the limited interception efficiency of the flexible net barrier, which is believed to be related to the flexibility. The energy ratio of outflow is relative small despite the large permeability of the flexible net barrier.

Numerical Simulation of TWo Different Flexible Bodies Immersed in Moving Flow

The coupled motion of two flexible bodies with different lengths immersed in moving fluid is studied numerically. The flapping frequency, flapping amplitude and average drag coefficient of each body are calculated and the influences of the arranging manner and separation distance are analyzed. In our simulation, when placed in the flow individually, the flexible body with a longer length will flap in period and the shorter one will maintain still straightly in the flow direction. The numerical results show that, two different flexible structures near placed in moving flow would strongly interact. When they are placed side by side, the existence of the stable shorter flexible body will restrain the flapping of the longer one while the existence of the longer flexible body may also induce the shorter one to flap synchronously. When placed in tandem with the shorter flexible body in upstream, the flapping of the longer one in downstream will be obviously enhanced. In the situation for the longer flexible body placed in upstream of the shorter one, the coupled flapping amplitude and average drag coefficients increase and decrease periodically with increasing the arranging space, and peak values appear as a result of the mediate of the tail wakes.

FLOW OF A VISCOUS FLUID PAST A FLEXIBLE MEMBRANE

This paper treats the numerical calculation of a steady two-dimensional viscous flow past a flexible membrane. Both edges of the membrane are fixed in the flow and its chord is set normal to the flow. The numerical calculations of the Navier-Stokes equation based on a finite difference method and a relaxation method are carried out for several values of the membrane tension in cases when the Reynolds numbers are 5, 10 and 20. It is found that the membrane tension has a minimum value below which there is no steady shape of the membrane. Two different shapes of the membrane are possible at a given value of tension: the one is of small deformation, while the other a large deformation. There appear twin vortices in the concave region of the membrane shape if its deformation increases to a certain extent.

PASSIVE-ACTIVE CONTROL OF A FLEXIBLE ISOLATION SYSTEM

Passive-active control of a flexible isolation system is investigated from the viewpoint of power flow. Dynamic transfer equations of the system are deduced based on a matrix method which uses mobility or impedance representations of three substructures: the source of vibration, the receiver and the mounting system which connects the source to the receiver. The cancellation of axial input forces to the receiver is considered as the active control strategy and its effects are discussed. The results of the study show that the strategy adopted herein can effectively reduce the power transmitted to the receiver.

Analysis of A Porous and Flexible Cylinder in Waves

The hydrodynamic response of a porous flexible circular-cylinder in regular waves was analytically studied. To simplify the problem, the cover and the bottom of the cylinder were ignored. Small amplitude water wave theory and structural responses were assumed. The velocity potentials were solved using the Fourier-Bessel series expansion method and the least squares approximation method. The convergence of the series was numerically tested to determine the number of terms in the series expansion. Two types of installations were considered for deformation, hydrodynamic forces, structural flexibility, drafts, and porosity. The present study represented a preliminary step in the study of the fish cage.

OPTIMUM CONTROL OF VIBRATION AND STRUCTURE－BORNE NOISE FOR MACHINERY ON FLEXIBLE FOUNDATION

Faced with the key problems of machinerv- induced vibration and structure-borne noise when dynamic machines are mounted on flexible foundations such as upper floors of facto- ry buildings, the vibration and noise transmission mechanism and optimal control for the flexible system are systematically studied by the novel approach of power flow. A more general system of machinery-isolators一flexible foundation is modelled. Based on substructure transfer matrix tech- nique the power flow input and transmitted are formulated in closed forms, and the effects that the flexibility of foundation and the asymmetricity of system have upon the power flow transmis- sion spectra are revealed, Also the inverse problems of isolation design are discussed by using an optimum method. Optimum design for a typical example about a force fan mounted on a con- crete building floor is successfully performed to show that the model is practical, the theory and the optimisation developed are reasonable and effective. Thereby, theoretical bases for accurate prediction of isolation effectiveness and an optimum method for practical design of a general flexi- ble isolation system are provided.

Power flow transmission in a coupled flexible system with active executive elements

Based on its prototype of machine-isolator-foundation systems, a theoretical model for dynamic coupled linear system is established, in which both the passive and active control factors are considered. Power flow is used as the cost function to evaluate the isolation effectiveness. And the transmission of vibratory power flow from a vibrating rigid body into a simply supported thin panel through passive isolators and actuators is investigated numerically. The active control strategy is summarized in the conclusion.

Non-isolated stacked bidirectional soft-switching DC-DC converter with PWM plus phase-shift control scheme

In this paper, a non-isolated stacked bidirectional DC-DC converter with zero-voltage-switching(ZVS) is introduced for the high step-up/step-down conversion systems. The extremely narrow turn-on and/or turn-off duty cycle existing in the conventional bidirectional buck-boost converters can be extended due to the stacked module configuration for large voltage conversion ratio applications. Furthermore, the switch voltage stress is halved because of the series connection of half bridge modules. The PWM plus phase-shift control strategy is employed, where the duty cycle is adopted to regulate the voltages between the input and output sides and the phaseshift angle is applied to achieve the power flow regulation.This decoupled control scheme can not only realize seamless bidirectional transition operation, but also achieve adaptive voltage balance for the power switches. In addition, ZVS soft-switching operation for all active switches is realized to minimize the switching losses. Finally, a prototype of 1 kW operating at 100 kHz is built and tested to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed converter and the control strategy.

Cross-seam Hybrid MTDC System for Integration and Delivery of Large-scale Renewable Energy

To better utilize the diversity of renewable energies in the U. S., this paper proposes a cross-seam hybrid multi-terminal high-voltage direct current(MTDC) system for the integration of different types of renewable energies in the U. S.Based on a developed station-hybrid converter design, the proposed hybrid MTDC system further investigates the connection methods of renewable energies and develops novel flexible power flow control strategies for realizing uninterrupted integration of renewable energies. In addition, the frequency response control of the hybrid MTDC system is proposed by utilizing the coordination between the converters in the hybrid MTDC system.The feasibility of the hybrid MTDC system and the performance of its corresponding control strategies are conducted in the PSCAD/EMTDC simulation. The simulation results indicate that the proposed hybrid MTDC system could realize the uninterrupted integration of renewable energies and flexible power transmission to both coasts of U.S.

Analysis and Control of MVDC Demonstration Project in the UK:ANGLE-DC

The emerging medium voltage direct current(MVDC)distribution networks are becoming more attractive due to their flexible power flow control and lower losses compared to traditional AC networks.This will significantly increase the wide uptake of renewable energy sources.The optimum utilization of the existing assets is an important aspect in grid upgrading and planning.One feasible option is to convert existing MVAC lines into MVDC operation.One of the practical demonstrations is the“ANGLE-DC”project which is also the first MVDC link in the UK.This paper highlights the innovative approach,challenges and key benefits delivered by the ANGLE-DC project.