EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/S011862/1
Title: High-fidelity Simulation of Air Entrainment in Breaking Wave Impacts
Principal Investigator: Ma, Dr Z
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Royal HaskoningDHV UK
Department: Sch of Computing, Maths and Digital Tech
Organisation: Manchester Metropolitan University
Scheme: New Investigator Award
Starts: 01 February 2019 Ends: 31 July 2021 Value (£): 253,914
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Coastal & Waterway Engineering Fluid Dynamics
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Technical Consultancy
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
07 Aug 2018 Engineering Prioritisation Panel Meeting 7 and 8 August 2018 Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
Global climate change is increasing the odds of more extreme weather events taking place which will have higher intensity and longer duration. Strong winds and high sea levels generate more large waves and drive them much closer to the UK's shore than before. The coastline, offshore platforms, renewable energy converters and marine vessels are battered by storms, and their integrity is placed under the threat of violent wave impact. Such extreme events also challenge the emergency landing of aircraft in the sea particularly ditching helicopters as well as the launch and recovery operations of lifeboats from larger vessels under high sea states.

To mitigate the uncertainties and risks posed by such natural hazards on the public safety and the economic activity of the UK, it is vital for research, industry and governmental bodies to improve the design of coastal and offshore structures through the accurate prediction of the extreme wave loadings and the resultant damage by the development and use of high-fidelity new generation free surface modelling tools, which combine mathematical and physical science as well as the latest software engineering technology.

The overall aim of this project is to develop such a powerful numerical tool to enable academics and industrial users to gain new scientific insights and better understanding of the air entrainment process in wave breaking. This will help determine the critical aeration level and distribution before/within/after wave breaking, and predict the characteristics of the resultant impact loadings on coastal and offshore structures through CFD simulation. This will be accomplished by re-engineering and extending the capabilities of an existing novel compressible multiphase hydro-code incorporating an advanced two-fluid hybrid turbulence modelling approach, fluid surface tension and adaptive high order numerical discretisation schemes deployed by state-of-the-art HPC facilities.

The availability and use of the tools and data produced by the project will firmly support academics and engineers to modify/improve the designs of crucial defence systems in order to address increasing environmental challenges, protect valuable personal and public assets, safeguard local residents and commuters, and ensure the integrity of transport lines. This will help to maintain the economic-environmental-societal competitiveness and long-term sustainable development of the UK.

Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.mmu.ac.uk