Large Deformation Numerical Modelling of Drag Embedment Anchors for Floating Offshore Wind - PhD Scholarship

This PhD scholarship is offered by the EPSRC CDT (Centre for Doctoral Training) in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience, a partnership between Durham, Hull, Loughborough and Sheffield universities. The project focuses on applying the Material Point Method to simulate installation and post-installation behaviour of drag embedment anchors for floating offshore wind turbines. The research addresses critical challenges in anchoring and mooring solutions needed to secure thousands of turbines in deep waters to meet the UK's 2050 net-zero targets and 40GW floating offshore wind ambition. The successful applicant will undertake six months of intensive training with the CDT cohort at the University of Hull before continuing PhD research at Durham University. The scholarship covers fees plus a stipend currently set at £20,780 per annum (2025/26 rates), increasing annually in line with EPSRC guidelines. Students benefit from a comprehensive taught programme providing broad understanding of offshore wind sector needs, supplemented by Continuing Professional Development throughout the 4-year research scholarship. Training includes advanced numerical modelling, computational mechanics, plasticity, large deformation mechanics, and engagement with the UK Association for Computational Mechanics community. The project investigates high-performance Drag Embedment Anchors (DEAs) as offshore-proven, cost-effective solutions that can be scaled for future 15MW+ turbines. It addresses uncertainty in installation forces and feasibility as anchors are upscaled, providing insights into anchor capacity and performance under variable loading conditions. This contributes to designing robust anchoring systems for the installation of up to 8,000 anchor and mooring systems required for approximately 2,700 floating turbines in heterogeneous soils and seabed conditions. Applications are processed on a rolling basis for September 2026 entry, with shortlisted candidates invited to two-stage interviews. The CDT offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for underrepresented ethnic groups who meet entry requirements, demonstrating commitment to diversity and inclusion in the training programme.