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Experimental and Numerical Investigations on a Flexible Membrane Wave Energy Converter / IEUAN COLLINS

Swansea University Author: IEUAN COLLINS

  • Redacted version - open access under embargo until: 1st October 2028

DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.64081

Abstract

The aim of this thesis was to provide a basis for successful development of novel flexible membrane wave energy converters (FlexWECs) through the development of experimental test procedures and computational tools. The initial goals were to perform the first large-scale comprehensive literature revi...

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Published: Swansea, Wales, UK 2023
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
Supervisor: Hossain, Mokarram. and Masters, Ian.
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64081
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first_indexed 2023-08-17T09:58:00Z
last_indexed 2023-08-17T09:58:00Z
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spelling v2 64081 2023-08-17 Experimental and Numerical Investigations on a Flexible Membrane Wave Energy Converter 1f666f635a4ed2bd101352093f311e18 IEUAN COLLINS IEUAN COLLINS true false 2023-08-17 The aim of this thesis was to provide a basis for successful development of novel flexible membrane wave energy converters (FlexWECs) through the development of experimental test procedures and computational tools. The initial goals were to perform the first large-scale comprehensive literature review on possible design configurations, material composites appropriate for the structure and then give an overview of the current modelling options available. From the literature study, the biggest knowledge gap identified related to elastomeric materials in experimental testing and computational modelling for FlexWECs; prompting an investigation in these areas. The first part of PhD is spent testing elastomeric materials for time-dependent behaviour, marine environment deterioration, and fatigue loading. Experiments found moderate degrees of viscoelasticity in pure rubber, but this rises with particle reinforcement. Seawater ageing may considerably modify a material&apos;s stiffness, although the outcomes arise over extremely long time scales and fatigue loading mechanisms are predicted to dominate the deterioration process. Ageing had little influence on the fatigue life of the material analysed. As part of this PhD, a bespoke experimental test facility for characterising elastomeric materials which takes into account seawater and biaxial loading conditions has been developed for Swansea University. The second portion presents a viscoelasticity and damage modelling methodology applied to FlexWEC architectures. The rst case study examines the long-term effects of material relaxation and hysteresis on energy harvesting. Long-term creep is important for FlexWECs because material characteristics can change the pressurisation properties causing catastrophic failures. It was found that hysteresis has a small influence on the dynamic behaviour of a FlexWEC. The second case study focused on membrane degradation and inhomogeneous softening. Non-local damage effects caused a different failure mode and lower maximum pressure than a global damage model. E-Thesis Swansea, Wales, UK Mechanical Engineering, Wave Energy, Solid Mechanics, Flexible Membranes, Ocean Engineering, Experimental Characterisation, Viscoelasticity, Damage Mechanics 23 5 2023 2023-05-23 10.23889/SUthesis.64081 A selection of third party content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis due to copyright restrictions. COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Hossain, Mokarram. and Masters, Ian. Doctoral Ph.D KESS2 (ESF) 2023-10-05T15:16:13.3865212 2023-08-17T10:52:08.8261250 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering IEUAN COLLINS 1 Under embargo Under embargo 2023-08-17T10:59:50.0740153 Output 19536220 application/pdf Redacted version - open access true 2028-10-01T00:00:00.0000000 Copyright: The Author, Ieuan Collins, 2023. Distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY 4.0). true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Experimental and Numerical Investigations on a Flexible Membrane Wave Energy Converter
spellingShingle Experimental and Numerical Investigations on a Flexible Membrane Wave Energy Converter
IEUAN COLLINS
title_short Experimental and Numerical Investigations on a Flexible Membrane Wave Energy Converter
title_full Experimental and Numerical Investigations on a Flexible Membrane Wave Energy Converter
title_fullStr Experimental and Numerical Investigations on a Flexible Membrane Wave Energy Converter
title_full_unstemmed Experimental and Numerical Investigations on a Flexible Membrane Wave Energy Converter
title_sort Experimental and Numerical Investigations on a Flexible Membrane Wave Energy Converter
author_id_str_mv 1f666f635a4ed2bd101352093f311e18
author_id_fullname_str_mv 1f666f635a4ed2bd101352093f311e18_***_IEUAN COLLINS
author IEUAN COLLINS
author2 IEUAN COLLINS
format E-Thesis
publishDate 2023
institution Swansea University
doi_str_mv 10.23889/SUthesis.64081
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
document_store_str 0
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description The aim of this thesis was to provide a basis for successful development of novel flexible membrane wave energy converters (FlexWECs) through the development of experimental test procedures and computational tools. The initial goals were to perform the first large-scale comprehensive literature review on possible design configurations, material composites appropriate for the structure and then give an overview of the current modelling options available. From the literature study, the biggest knowledge gap identified related to elastomeric materials in experimental testing and computational modelling for FlexWECs; prompting an investigation in these areas. The first part of PhD is spent testing elastomeric materials for time-dependent behaviour, marine environment deterioration, and fatigue loading. Experiments found moderate degrees of viscoelasticity in pure rubber, but this rises with particle reinforcement. Seawater ageing may considerably modify a material&apos;s stiffness, although the outcomes arise over extremely long time scales and fatigue loading mechanisms are predicted to dominate the deterioration process. Ageing had little influence on the fatigue life of the material analysed. As part of this PhD, a bespoke experimental test facility for characterising elastomeric materials which takes into account seawater and biaxial loading conditions has been developed for Swansea University. The second portion presents a viscoelasticity and damage modelling methodology applied to FlexWEC architectures. The rst case study examines the long-term effects of material relaxation and hysteresis on energy harvesting. Long-term creep is important for FlexWECs because material characteristics can change the pressurisation properties causing catastrophic failures. It was found that hysteresis has a small influence on the dynamic behaviour of a FlexWEC. The second case study focused on membrane degradation and inhomogeneous softening. Non-local damage effects caused a different failure mode and lower maximum pressure than a global damage model.
published_date 2023-05-23T15:16:14Z
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score 11.037603

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