Academic literature on the topic 'Buoyant ascent (Hydrodynamics)'

Abstract A mechanism is demonstrated that could explain large-scale aggregations of lipid-rich copepods in the surface waters of marine environments. Laboratory experiments establish that changes in salinity and temperature induce lipid-mediated buoyancy instability that entrains copepods in surface waters. Reduced hydrostatic pressure associated with forced ascent of copepods at fjordic sills, shelf breaks and seamounts would also reduce the density of the lipid reserves, forcing copepods and particularly those in diapause to the surface. We propose that salinity, temperature and hydrodynamics of the physical environment, in conjunction with the biophysical properties of lipids, explain periodic high abundances of lipid-rich copepods in surface waters.

The problem of motion stability of submersible vehicles in free positive buoyancy ascent is analyzed. Motion is allowed to occur in combined vertical and horizontal planes. Continuation and catastrophe theory techniques are employed to trace all possible steady-state solutions in six degrees of freedom, while local linearization reveals their stability properties. Vehicle geometric properties and control surface deflections are used as the primary bifurcation parameters. It is shown that multiple solutions may exist in the form of pitchfork bifurcation, solution separation, hysteresis, and teardrop branches. Regions in parameter spaces are identified where extreme sensitivity of solutions to geometric properties and hydrodynamic modeling is present.

Abstract A close relationship between Ni–Cu–(PGE) sulfide deposits and magmatic conduit systems has been widely accepted, but our present understanding still rests on empirical inductions that sulfide liquids are entrained during magma ascent and aggregated at hydrodynamic traps such as the opening of a conduit into a larger magma body. In this contribution, a preliminary quantitative model for the dynamics of mm-scale sulfide droplets in a vertical magmatic conduit is developed, examining such limiting parameters as the size, transport velocity and the magmas’ maximum carrying capacity for sulfide droplets. Addition of numerous dense sulfide droplets significantly reduces magma buoyancy and rapidly increases the bulk viscosity, and the resulting pressure gradient in the propagating conduit dyke restricts the maximum volume fraction of droplets that can be carried by ascending magma. For sulfide droplets alone, the maximum carrying capacity is low, but it will be improved dramatically by the addition of volatiles which reduces the density and viscosity of silicate melt. Potential volatile degassing during decompression further facilitates sulfide entrainment by reducing bulk magma density, and the formation of buoyant compound vapour-sulfide liquid bubble drops also greatly enhances the carrying capacity. The breakdown of compound drops by detachment of parts of the vapour bubble or sulfide droplet may occur at low pressure, which liberates sulfide liquids from rising compound drops, potentially to collect in traps in the conduit system. When sulfide-laden magma flows through a widening conduit, many droplets can be captured by the re-circulation flow just downstream of the expanding section, followed by sulfide liquid accumulation and enhanced chemical interaction via diffusive exchange with the recirculating magma, potentially resulting in an economic, high-tonnage ore body. We apply our models to the emplacement of sulfide-rich magmatic suspensions at Noril’sk and show that the disseminated mineralization in intrusions could have formed when magmas carrying re-suspended sulfide liquid entrained from pre-existing sulfide accumulations in the conduit system reached their limiting sulfide carrying capacity as dictated by buoyancy and were deflected into blind sills flanking the principal conduit for flood basalt volcanism.

A new buoyant jet model is presented in this thesis to simulate the trajectory and dilution of a fluid from a single port or line source. The new features include: A generalised derivation of the governing equations so that buoyant jets discharged from a source of any shape can be modelled within the one framework, and the effects of high-frequency internal waves on the motion of the buoyant jet. Past buoyant jet models were constructed for specific cases and their application is necessarily restricted. In this thesis, a new model is developed in a Lagrangian framework that can be applied to buoyant jet discharges at any angle into ambient waters that may be stratified or unstratified, flowing or stagnant. The model is validated using both laboratory and field data. Furthermore, the model is applicable to the continuous discharge of a buoyant jet from line, axisymmetric or elliptic sources and to the instantaneous discharge of a spherical puff. No previously published model is capable of unifying and solving all of these problems within the one framework. Transforming the governing equations to their non-dimensional form shows that the trajectory and dilution of discharges from line or axisymmetric sources or of spherical puffs into a flowing, stratified ambient environment are uniquely specified using three parameters. These are: the non-dimensional size of the outlet port, the relative importance of the initial fluxes of momentum and buoyancy, and the number of orthogonal planes through which entrainment can occur. This is a significant advance in the understanding of the processes affecting buoyant jets. When high-frequency internal waves are present in the receiving waters they can have significant effects on the buoyant jet. These effects are incorporated into the present model. Using data obtained from an experiment conducted off Sydney the effects of internal waves on the height of rise and dilution of the buoyant jet were found to exceed a factor of two. Consequently, it is important that the effects of internal waves (when present) be incorporated into any buoyant jet model.

The purpose of this study was to examine the conceptual understandings of 55 elementary preservice teachers for the concept of buoyancy. This study used Ausubel’s Assimilation Theory (Ausubel, 1963) as a framework for a 15-week intervention that used pre/post concept maps (Cmaps), pre/post face-to-face semi-structured interviews, and drawings as evidences for change of formation of cognitive structures. Using a convergent parallel design and mixed methods approach, preservice teachers’ conceptions were analyzed using these evidences. Results of the study show that preservice teachers held both scientific conceptions and misconceptions about buoyancy as a force before and after an instructional intervention. Of importance were the existence of robust misconceptions about buoyancy that included inaccurate scientific knowledge about the foundational concepts of gravity, weight, mass, and density. The largest gains in scientific knowledge included the concepts of gravity, surface area, opposing forces, and the buoyant force. These concepts were consistently supported with evidence from post-concept maps, post, semi-structured interviews, and drawings. However, high frequencies of misconceptions were associated with these same aforementioned concepts as well as additional misconceptions about buoyancy-related concepts (i.e., weight, density, displacement, and sinking/floating). A paired t test showed a statistically significant difference (t = -3.504, p = .001) in the total number of scientifically correct concepts for the pre-concept maps (M = 0.51, SD = .879) and post-concept maps (M = 1.25, SD = 1.542). The Cohen’s d effect size was small, .47. Even through gains for the pre/post concept maps were noted, a qualitative analysis of the results indicated that not only were there serious gaps in the participant’s scientific understanding of buoyancy, after the instructional intervention an increased number of misconceptions were presented alongside the newly learned concepts. A paired t test examining misconceptions showed that there was a statistically significant difference (t = -3.160, p = .003) in the total number of misconceptions for the pre-concept maps (M = 2.709, SD = 1.449) and post-concept maps (M = 3.363, SD = 2.094) after the intervention. The Cohen’s d effect size was small, .43. Taken together, these results revealed that, in general, the preservice teachers had understandings of buoyancy that align with children in preschool and elementary school (Biddulph and Osborne, 1983; Grimellini-Tomasini et al., 1990; Halford, Brown & Thompson, 1986; Hsin and Wu, 2011; Kohn, 1993; Rappolt-Schlichtmann et al., 2007; Yin et al., 2008). Based on these findings, implications for this study suggest that elementary preservice teacher candidates should be carefully screened to ensure they have mastered foundational scientific knowledge that they are expected to teach to children. As such knowledge is a prerequisite to the development of pedagogical content knowledge, it is unlikely that large numbers of robust misconceptions will be significantly reduced or eliminated during a science methods course that is designed to focus on pedagogical content knowledge.

In the event of a small break loss of coolant accident (SBLOCA) in a nuclear reactor, cold fluid is injected through the reactor system high pressure injector to compensate for the coolant loss. When this flow rate is less than a critical value, however, the hot fluid in the cold leg penetrates into the vertical injection line in a process called buoyant backflow. Because the resulting penetrations induce thermal stresses in the pipe, the presence of backflow in the injection lines is potentially significant. Since these penetrations could potentially damage the pipe, it was the purpose of this study to evaluate the backflow behavior. To this end, both the critical injection conditions and the subcritical penetration depth were experimentally determined through flow simulation in a 1/5 scale model. In addition, the experimental trends wi-re modeled theoretically. By matching the theoretical results to the experimental data, it was determined that backflow began below a critical Froude number of .65 and increased in depth with the negative logarithm of the injection velocity. The agreement between theory and experiment was excellent. For a certain class of reactor systems, the full scale Froude numbers were then compared to the critical value obtained in the analysis. For the systems involved in this comparison, the full scale Froude numbers were shown to be less than .65 for all practical flow rates. As a consequence, buoyant backflow is expected within the injection lines of these reactors, under safety injection conditions.
Graduation date: 1991