Machine Learning and Shape Optimisation of Fluid-Structure Interactions. This project aims to address vibrations of solid structures by utilising a combination of advanced experimental and computational methods. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of flow-induced vibrations utilising the new techniques of machine learning and evolutionary shape optimisation. Expected outcomes of this project include greatly accelerated discovery of mechanisms leading to structural vibratio ....Machine Learning and Shape Optimisation of Fluid-Structure Interactions. This project aims to address vibrations of solid structures by utilising a combination of advanced experimental and computational methods. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of flow-induced vibrations utilising the new techniques of machine learning and evolutionary shape optimisation. Expected outcomes of this project include greatly accelerated discovery of mechanisms leading to structural vibrations and optimising structure geometries to either enhance or suppress the vibrations. This should provide significant benefits, such as the design strategies for improved energy harvesters, such as current oscillators, or more stable structures, such as platforms for offshore wind turbines.
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Understanding vibratory piles in sand: installation and lateral response. This project aims to address uncertainties in the design of vibro-driven piles. This promising alternative to impact-driven piles offers faster installation and requires no noise mitigation. The project expects to generate new knowledge of the effect of the installation process in sand on in-service pile response by integrating findings from innovative experiments and numerical modelling. This is particularly important for ....Understanding vibratory piles in sand: installation and lateral response. This project aims to address uncertainties in the design of vibro-driven piles. This promising alternative to impact-driven piles offers faster installation and requires no noise mitigation. The project expects to generate new knowledge of the effect of the installation process in sand on in-service pile response by integrating findings from innovative experiments and numerical modelling. This is particularly important for highly sensitive structures such as offshore wind turbines, which provide a rapidly increasing share of global energy supply. Expected outcomes include practical recommendations for vibro-piles in sand. This should provide sizeable benefits by unlocking vibro-piles as a viable method to reduce offshore wind farm costs.Read moreRead less
High-fidelity simulations for new models that reduce noise pollution. This project aims to develop a method for accurate and affordable prediction and mitigation of flow-induced noise. The innovative approach, based on recent developments in simulation and data-driven modelling, expects to reduce environmental noise pollution, improve public health and ease the impact of urbanisation. To date methodological limitations have hampered our ability to predict noise reliably and hence control it. Thi ....High-fidelity simulations for new models that reduce noise pollution. This project aims to develop a method for accurate and affordable prediction and mitigation of flow-induced noise. The innovative approach, based on recent developments in simulation and data-driven modelling, expects to reduce environmental noise pollution, improve public health and ease the impact of urbanisation. To date methodological limitations have hampered our ability to predict noise reliably and hence control it. This project, exploiting proven high-fidelity simulation and machine-learning techniques to overcome limitations to produce the scientific knowledge required for practical noise mitigation. Benefits include quieter aerospace, marine and renewable energy technologies, creating more pleasant communities.Read moreRead less
Smart site investigation for offshore energy installations in sand . This project aims to develop a next generation tool for seabed site investigations. It will use free-fall penetrometers, advanced physical modelling and novel probabilistic methods to investigate fundamental science of sand responses at low stress level and generate new interpretation methods. Outcomes of this project include a scientific framework to predict soil design parameters at unsampled seabed locations. A game changer ....Smart site investigation for offshore energy installations in sand . This project aims to develop a next generation tool for seabed site investigations. It will use free-fall penetrometers, advanced physical modelling and novel probabilistic methods to investigate fundamental science of sand responses at low stress level and generate new interpretation methods. Outcomes of this project include a scientific framework to predict soil design parameters at unsampled seabed locations. A game changer in offshore site investigations, the project will provide cheaper and faster geotechnical site investigation in sand at a time of global increase in offshore energy installations (worth 4 trillion over the next decade).Read moreRead less
Solutions for rapid penetration into sand for offshore energy installations. This project aims to develop a fundamental understanding of the response of saturated sand in seabeds during rapid penetration by offshore site investigation tools and foundation construction. The research is using innovative physical and advanced numerical modelling techniques to quantify the significant increase in sand resistance caused by rapid penetration, enabling reliable design and reducing risk of material fail ....Solutions for rapid penetration into sand for offshore energy installations. This project aims to develop a fundamental understanding of the response of saturated sand in seabeds during rapid penetration by offshore site investigation tools and foundation construction. The research is using innovative physical and advanced numerical modelling techniques to quantify the significant increase in sand resistance caused by rapid penetration, enabling reliable design and reducing risk of material failure associated with the high impact forces. Expected outcomes of the project include a conceptual framework and scientific-based design tool to predict the geotechnical performance of offshore installations. The research will provide the necessary scientific advances to install, moor and service offshore wind and wave energy devices more economically and efficiently.Read moreRead less
Design guideline for suction caissons supporting offshore wind turbines. This project aims to develop an industry guideline for suction caisson foundations, that are a new form of fixed platform anchor, for offshore wind turbines. The project expects to generate new knowledge of caisson response during installation and over millions of wind/wave load cycles, by integrating field experience with measurements from innovative experiments. The expected outcomes of this project include new methods to ....Design guideline for suction caissons supporting offshore wind turbines. This project aims to develop an industry guideline for suction caisson foundations, that are a new form of fixed platform anchor, for offshore wind turbines. The project expects to generate new knowledge of caisson response during installation and over millions of wind/wave load cycles, by integrating field experience with measurements from innovative experiments. The expected outcomes of this project include new methods to guide suction installation in difficult soil layering and predicting rotation and stiffness over a turbine’s operational life. The benefits of these scientific advances will contribute to the economic and reliable design of suction caisson foundations and a more rapid take-up of offshore wind energy.Read moreRead less
Anchoring the next generation of offshore floating infrastructure. This project aims to advance the fundamental scientific understanding of embedded anchor behaviour and to develop engineering solutions to secure the next generation of floating platforms, wind turbines and submerged tunnels. This is significant because limited understanding of anchors under long-term sustained and cyclic loading, and in how wave-chain-anchor systems behave, is hindering confident deployment in deep water and har ....Anchoring the next generation of offshore floating infrastructure. This project aims to advance the fundamental scientific understanding of embedded anchor behaviour and to develop engineering solutions to secure the next generation of floating platforms, wind turbines and submerged tunnels. This is significant because limited understanding of anchors under long-term sustained and cyclic loading, and in how wave-chain-anchor systems behave, is hindering confident deployment in deep water and harsh conditions. This project will address this challenge by combining precise observations from sophisticated physical and numerical experiments into an analysis framework that integrates system response. Outcomes will include numerical software, analytical tools and design charts for engineers to use in design.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101247
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Rational design of a new generation magnesium diboride superconducting rotor coil suitable for offshore low-cost wind turbine generators. New developments in wind power technologies provide opportunities in the next decade to deliver renewable energy. The present and future low cost magnesium diboride superconducting technology, coupled with renewable energy sources, has the potential to provide a long-term solution to the energy crisis and global warming threat.
Long-term corrosion of offshore steel structures in near-stagnant seawater. This project investigates the seawater corrosion of structural steels under near-stagnant and possibly polluted conditions. Better understanding of long-term corrosion of structural steels in near-stagnant seawaters is needed to predict the safety of steel offshore structures such as the pods supporting wind and wave energy generators. Also, the expensive maintenance of protective coatings and systems could be obviated o ....Long-term corrosion of offshore steel structures in near-stagnant seawater. This project investigates the seawater corrosion of structural steels under near-stagnant and possibly polluted conditions. Better understanding of long-term corrosion of structural steels in near-stagnant seawaters is needed to predict the safety of steel offshore structures such as the pods supporting wind and wave energy generators. Also, the expensive maintenance of protective coatings and systems could be obviated or reduced if corrosion remains acceptable. This project plans to investigate experimentally the temporal development and stochastic nature of general corrosion and pitting for steels under actual near-stagnant seawater conditions. It also plans to build mathematical-probabilistic models for corrosion prediction, calibrated to field data. These models will include allowance for microbiological corrosion effects, important under anthropological pollution.Read moreRead less
Lifting objects off the seabed. This project aims to investigate the process of lifting objects off the seabed. Understanding this breakout process is the scientific basis for a variety of offshore applications such as oil and gas decommissioning, marine salvage and securing foundations under extreme storms. This project expects to advance the understanding of soil-fluid-structure interactions of this problem using innovative high-speed photography observations and advanced numerical coupled ana ....Lifting objects off the seabed. This project aims to investigate the process of lifting objects off the seabed. Understanding this breakout process is the scientific basis for a variety of offshore applications such as oil and gas decommissioning, marine salvage and securing foundations under extreme storms. This project expects to advance the understanding of soil-fluid-structure interactions of this problem using innovative high-speed photography observations and advanced numerical coupled analyses. Outcomes will include a numerical tool, verified against a high quality experimental database, to predict the breakout process and uplift required for pressing offshore challenges. The ability for Australia’s engineers to predict lift procedures more accurately will contribute to safer operations in Australian waters and to the more economic harnessing of ocean resources.Read moreRead less