PhD Studentship: Development of advanced CFD tools for offshore renewable energy applications

Project summary

This is a full-time, funded PhD opportunity in the Faculty of Science and Engineering. It is open to both Home and Overseas students. Please note that only Home fees will be covered - eligible overseas students will need to make up the difference in tuition fee funding.

This opportunity provides an annual stipend of the research council minimum rate (set by UKRI) of £19,237 for 2024/25.

The study of wave/wind structure interaction (WSI) is fundamental to the design and development of coastal, offshore and ocean engineering structures, including sea defences and emerging offshore renewable energy (ORE) technologies (for conversion of wind, wave and tidal energy to electricity). With the wide availability and constant improvement of in-house, commercial and open-source codes, covering the full spectrum of model fidelity and efficiency, numerical modelling in the form of a so-called numerical wave tank (NWT) has become an indispensable part of WSI research and industrial applications. However, modelling applications involving complex WSI accurately and efficiently, especially those associated with extreme marine conditions, is particularly challenging because these are multi-physics, multi-scale problems. As a consequence, coupling of multiple codes, with different capabilities, may become the only practical solution. However, within the current WSI code coupling framework, coupling between flow solvers is done on an ad hoc basis through a predefined fixed interface, limiting its applications to simple WSI problems and the potential gains in computational efficiency from code coupling.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the project is to develop an advanced coupled framework for Numerical Wave Tank (NWT) software with enhanced functionality, accuracy and efficiency for modelling complex wave structure interaction problems involving moving structures and multiple flow physics. The aim will be achieved through the following objectives:

• Implement a dynamic code coupling interface for coupling hierarchical flow and structural solvers within an NWT.
• Optimise multi-model coupling, including designing and implementing conservative interpolation schemes as well as its implementation on high performance computers.
• Apply the developed code to evaluate the performance and survivability of emerging offshore renewable technologies such as floating wind and wave energy converters.
• Prepare papers for publication in high quality scientific journals.

Specific requirements of the project

Potential candidates should have or expect to obtain a first or upper-second Honours degree, or equivalent, in Engineering, Mathematics or Physical Sciences. Knowledge of numerical solutions of partial differential equations and/or fluid dynamics and good programming skills are essential. A Master degree in a relevant subject would be an advantage. Experience of applying OpenFOAM and High Performance Computing (HPC) in the context of CFD would be beneficial.

How to apply

Interested applicants should contact Prof Ling Qian at L.Qian@mmu.ac.uk for an informal discussion.

To apply you will need to complete the online application form for a full-time PhD in Computing and Digital Technology (or download the PGR application form).

You should also submit a personal statement and a CV (traditional CV or Narrative CV) addressing the project’s aims and objectives, demonstrating how the skills you have map to this area of research and why you see this area as being of importance and interest. 

If applying online, you will need to upload your statement in the supporting documents section or email the application form and statement to pgradmissions@mmu.ac.uk.

Closing date 30^th June 2024. Expected start date October 2024.

Please quote the reference: SciEng-LQ-2024-CFD

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