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European Union European Industrial Doctorates

Freak Waves & Breaking Wave Impact on Offshore Structures

EU project
The Maritime Research Institute Netherlands MARIN is a world-leading institute for hydrodynamic research and maritime technology. The complimentarity of the proposed research for a junior team of ESRs is demonstrated in practical terms by the translation of actual maritime engineering needs at MARIN in terms of mathematical and numerical models. In the first research work package, the maritime engineering requirement for stable numerical wave simulators concerning actual wave basins is met mathematically by the exploitation of variational space-time integrators to establish robust numerical handling of wavemakers. In the second research work package, the maritime engineering requirement is to be able to model nonbreaking and breaking waves efficiently and in unison. Augmented by innovations from academic research, the models will then be returned for validation concerning wave impact at offshore wind turbines, and use in the maritime engineering practice. In essence, the synergy of the subprojects arises from an integrated research and training plan: the multidisciplinary work plans complete the circle of translating practical industrial demands into training in mathematical modelling. Wave slamming and wave breaking pose significant problems for maritime shipping and offshore structures. Both are areas of key strategic economic investment for a number of European countries as respects the development of sustainable industrial and commercial transport and renewable energy policy. The modelling produced here can subsequently returned back to the industrial consulting practice for use in testing, which will ultimately lead to a competitive commercial advantage for high-tech maritime consulting and ship building across Europe. Skilling a new generation of researchers to work and communicate across national boundaries, disciplines and sectors is vital for the future competitive health of these sectors.

Activies

News

January 2015: Early Stage Researchers Floriane Gidel and Tomasz Salwa passed their training courses Fluid Dynamics (EPSRC Fluid Dynamics Center in Leeds) and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics. First EU project results in Firedrake (FG).