The Department of Civil Engineering at KU Leuven is one of the leading research and educational environments in the field of engineering. Here, researchers, faculty, and students collaborate on innovative solutions to prepare our built and natural environments for the challenges of tomorrow—from sustainable buildings, infrastructure, and construction materials to water management and climate adaptation. In an international and dynamic environment, societal impact is central. By combining groundbreaking research with high-quality education, the department actively contributes to a more sustainable and resilient society. The Department of Civil Engineering is part of the Science and Technology Group.
Research at KU Leuven’s Hydraulics Laboratory, founded by Prof. Jean Berlamont in 1974, and at Campus Bruges focuses on advancing the understanding of water, sediment, and geotechnical processes through fundamental theory development, numerical modelling, laboratory and field experimentation, and statistical data analysis. The research covers a broad range of topics, including urban water systems, rivers, coastal zones, shelf seas, and estuaries, while Campus Bruges also hosts expertise in geotechnical engineering.
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Project
Offshore floating photovoltaics (OFPV) is an emerging renewable energy technology that deploys solar panels on floating platforms at sea, often alongside existing offshore wind infrastructure. While this approach offers strong potential to increase clean energy production, OFPV systems can be vulnerable to extreme ocean conditions. Large and rare waves can overtop low-lying platforms, generate significant impact forces, and damage exposed solar panels. At present, no dedicated design standards exist to guide the design of these systems to withstand such events.
This PhD project aims to improve understanding of how extreme waves interact with offshore floating solar platforms, with the goal of supporting safer and more reliable designs. The student will use advanced numerical simulations at KU Leuven to model the impact of large waves on OFPV structures, capturing key processes such as wave breaking, overtopping, and the forces acting on solar panels and supporting elements.
To ensure the reliability of the simulations, selected scenarios will be tested experimentally at the University of Melbourne using a large wind–wave flume. Measurements obtained from these controlled experiments will be used to validate and refine the numerical models.
The validated models will then be used to identify critical wave conditions, design limits, and safety margins for OFPV systems operating in offshore environments. The project will provide the student with advanced training in numerical modelling, laboratory experimentation, and offshore renewable energy engineering, while contributing the knowledge needed to support the safe deployment of offshore solar technologies.
Profile
- You hold, or are about to obtain, a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Coastal Engineering, Ocean Engineering, or a related discipline.
- You meet the minimum H1 standard required for eligibility for a University of Melbourne scholarship. Further information on the H1 standard is available at: https://students.unimelb.edu.au/course-admin/results.
- You have a strong interest in coastal and offshore engineering, renewable energy systems, and the interaction between waves and marine structures.
- You are enthusiastic, self-motivated, and able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English are essential.
- You demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to conduct independent research and contribute to interdisciplinary collaborations.
Offer
- We offer a fully funded PhD position for a period of four years, subject to satisfactory progress.
- You will be primarily based at KU Leuven with a minimum 12-month stay at the University of Melbourne.
- The successful candidate will receive a competitive scholarship in accordance with KU Leuven and University of Melbourne regulations.
- During the research stay in Australia, you will remain funded under the locally applicable scholarship arrangements of the University of Melbourne and will not have expatriate status.
- You will have access to state-of-the-art research facilities, participation in doctoral training programmes, and the opportunity to work in an international and collaborative research environment
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. Tomohiro Suzuki, mail: [email protected].
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