Macro-Biofouling

Dynamic immersed boundary method for LES of turbulent flow over rough surfaces and applications to macro-biofouling

This project addresses computational modeling of turbulent flows over rough surfaces such as those found on ship hulls exposed to heavy macro biofouling. This project aims to develop, test and apply new tools for the specific purpose of improved predictions of turbulent flows over multi-scale, rough surfaces, using Large Eddy Simulations. The project consists of several research tasks, including the development of a dynamic sharp immersed boundary method. The dynamic Immersed Boundary Method (dIBM) will be tested by applications to canonical test cases and comparison to known data and behavior.

Collaborators: Charles Meneveau (JHU),  Michael Schultz (USNA)

 

BioFouling1

Example of a macro-fouled hull of a ship

 

BioFouling2

Characterizing Barnacle Geometry from high resolution scans

 

BioFouling1

Time averaged 2D – streamlines at the mid-plane near the base for arrays of idealized barnacles for two different arrangements

 

BioFouling2Instantaneous Vortex Structures identified by the swirling strength criteria and colored by Pressure