PhD Position in High-Fidelity Simulations of Innovative Offshore Wind Foundations

PhD Position in High-Fidelity Simulations of Innovative Offshore Wind Foundations

Join the RAPID-Wind project to develop next-generation adaptive finite element models for high-fidelity wave–structure interaction simulations in offshore wind foundations.

Job description

We are looking for a highly motivated and talented PhD researcher to join the RAPID-Wind project, which aims to develop a new computational framework for the design of advanced offshore wind turbine foundations in deep waters. As turbine sizes increase and installations move to greater depths, the offshore industry faces growing challenges related to wave loading, dynamic response, and fatigue. Perforated monopiles are a promising concept to reduce hydrodynamic loads and increase passive damping, but their design requires accurate simulation tools capable of resolving complex free-surface, multiscale flow–structure interactions.

RAPID-Wind will develop a new computational modelling framework that enables high-fidelity simulations and real-time predictions by combining adaptive unfitted finite element methods, high-performance computing (HPC), and efficient surrogate models based on reduced-order modelling (ROM) and neural operators.

If selected, you will focus on developing the essential numerical foundations for robust simulation of free-surface flows interacting with offshore structures of complex geometry. In particular, you will advance the state of the art in adaptive mesh refinement and immersed boundary techniques to automatically resolve flow inside and around offshore wind foundations. This involves solving coupled fluid–structure interaction problems in free-surface flows.

The methods and formulations developed in this PhD project will form the core of a scalable HPC simulation framework, which will be further extended in collaboration with a postdoctoral researcher. This simulation framework will also serve as the basis for developing the underlying problem formulation and for generating high-resolution simulation data for the development of surrogate models within the project.

You will join the Computational Multiphysics in Offshore Engineering (CMOE) group, a dynamic research team dedicated to developing state-of-the-art numerical methods for offshore renewable energy applications. The group specializes in computational modelling of fluid–structure interaction, wave–structure interaction, and mooring systems.

Your PhD project will be co-supervised by Oriol Colomés, lead of the CMOE group, and Alexander Heinlein, from the Numerical Analysis section at the Delft Institute of Applied Mathematics. You will be part of the Offshore Engineering section in the Hydraulic Engineering Department, working alongside leading experts in offshore energy.

You will actively participate in regular group meetings, publish scientific articles, and present your work at national and international conferences. You will also contribute to teaching and supervision activities within the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at Delft University of Technology.

A key aspect of this PhD project is close collaboration with industry partners to ensure that the research translates into real-world design practice. The research will be conducted in cooperation with companies and organizations leading the design and analysis of offshore wind foundations.

Job requirements

The successful applicant will have:

• A master's degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Maritime Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science or another relevant domain.
• Basic knowledge of numerical methods for the solution of partial differential equations; research experience with the finite element method is a plus.
• Good programming skills (Fortran/C++/Python/Julia), preferably in Julia.
• Knowledge in fluid-structure interaction problems, scientific computing and ocean energy technologies are considered a merit.
• Self-motivated, curiosity-driven, open to communicate and collaborate with peers.
• Excellent communications skills in English, both writing and speaking.
• Ability to work independently and self-driven in a multidisciplinary team.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society.

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts: an initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.