About the project
Injecting air beneath a ship’s hull offers significant drag reduction and fuel savings, but current systems perform best on flat geometries. This project addresses the open question of how hull curvature influences air-layer dynamics and stability. This is a crucial step toward extending air lubrication to a wider range of vessel designs and realistic flow conditions.
In this project, you'll experimentally investigate the flow dynamics and stability of air layers over curved surfaces, representing realistic ship hull geometries. You'll aim to uncover the fundamental mechanisms that govern air layer formation, evolution, and maintenance on non-flat surfaces, enabling more effective drag-reduction strategies for future vessels. You'll conduct experiments using the water channel facilities in the Experimental Fluids Labs at the Boldrewood Innovation Campus. There is also scope to explore this problem in the 138 m Boldrewood Towing Tank.
Specifically, you will:
- characterise air layer formation, stability, and flow reattachment/detachment dynamics on curved model surfaces under controlled flow conditions
- quantify the influence of surface curvature on air layer behaviour using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), high-speed imaging, and laser-based diagnostics
- investigate air distribution and layer breakdown under varying flow speeds and pressures representative of realistic maritime conditions
You'll join a diverse and inclusive research team working on experimental fluid mechanics exploring maritime engineering applications. The project is flexible and will be shaped around your interests while you work alongside a team of researchers from diverse backgrounds. You'll receive hands-on training in advanced experimental diagnostics, including Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), high-speed imaging, alongside modern data-analysis techniques. The project will equip you with strong transferable skills for careers in academia and industry, with opportunities to present your work internationally and build global research collaborations.
This project provides a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of sustainable drag-reduction technologies for next-generation ships and could offer the opportunity to work with long-standing industry partners of the Maritime Engineering Group at the University of Southampton.
The School of Engineering is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.
