About the project
Recent advances in geophysical site surveying and machine learning have enabled the generation of synthetic Cone Penetration Test (CPT) data at arbitrary locations in a potential wind farm. In this project, you will gain skills and undertake research to unlock the potential of these valuable tools for efficient foundation design.
Lead the Way in Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Decarbonisation of our energy supply to meet UK and international Net Zero targets by 2050 requires rapid expansion of the offshore renewable energy industry. Tens of thousands of square kilometres of seabed need to be characterised, which would require hundreds of thousands of traditional CPTs. Synthetic CPTs offer a lower cost alternative, but require a shift away from position-specific in-situ testing to continuous spatial characterisation, with quantified uncertainty. To increase confidence in these new methods, significant research is required.
You will:
- assess the impact of using synthetic CPTs to design different foundation types
- develop an optimisation technique to select locations for all wind turbines in a site that optimises against key project drives, such as development timescale, total material usage, economic cost or embodied carbon
- provide new methods and guidance that allow engineers to utilise synthetic CPTs for design
You will work as part of the Intelligent & Resilient Ocean Engineering (IROE) research team in Southampton and take advantage of the facilities at the National Infrastructure Laboratory. The project will enable you to collaborate with industry and access real site data, as well as develop your programming and optimisation skills.
The outcomes of this project are expected to be taken up by the offshore renewable energy sector and therefore have a direct impact on the industry by improving the integration of synthetic CPTs into design methods. You will develop transferrable skills, write journal papers, attend conferences and extend your network, enabling you to choose your preferred path in academia or industry.
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.
