Centrifuge Physical Modelling of Floating Offshore Wind Moorings in Layered Soils

This PhD scholarship is offered by the EPSRC CDT in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience, a partnership between the Universities of Durham, Hull, Loughborough and Sheffield. The project focuses on using Geotechnical Centrifuge Modelling to understand the behavior of floating offshore wind turbine foundations across diverse seabed conditions. The successful applicant will undertake six months of training with the CDT cohort at the University of Hull before continuing their PhD research at the University of Sheffield. The research addresses a critical knowledge gap in floating offshore wind technology, specifically examining how suction caissons (bucket foundations) perform in layered, heterogeneous soils and sloping seabeds. A key innovation involves using transparent soil analogues to enable direct visual observation of soil-structure interaction, providing crucial data for numerical model validation and design optimization. This work will bridge the gap between theoretical predictions and practical engineering design for the future of floating offshore wind. The scholarship includes a comprehensive training programme beginning with an intensive six-month course at the University of Hull, drawing on expertise from all four academic partners. Students receive specialized training in geotechnical centrifuge physical modelling, transparent soils techniques, refractive index matching, and optical methods. The 4-year research scholarship includes both the taught programme and embedded Continuing Professional Development throughout. Funding covers fees plus a stipend set at UKRI nationally agreed rates, currently £20,780 per annum at 2025/26 rates, with increases in subsequent years subject to progress and EPSRC guidelines.