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Fast aerodynamic model for rotor sails in wind-assisted ship propulsion
The maritime industry is increasingly adopting innovative technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the energy efficiency of commercial vessels. Among the most promising solutions is Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP), with Flettner rotors (rotor sails) emerging as one of the leading technologies for harnessing wind energy to support ship propulsion. Rotor sails generate aerodynamic lift through the Magnus effect, providing additional thrust and reducing the vessel’s fuel consumption. To maximize these benefits, it is essential to accurately predict the aerodynamic forces acting on the rotors and the flow field they generate. This challenge becomes particularly important when multiple rotor… Read more
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Wind Tunnel Testing of Iced Conductor Bundles for Galloping Assessment
Background and Motivation Galloping is a large-amplitude, low-frequency aeroelastic instability that may develop on overhead transmission lines under specific combinations of wind conditions and ice accretion. Accurate prediction of galloping requires reliable aerodynamic data, including force coefficients and flutter derivatives, which strongly depend on the geometry of the ice accretion and the conductor bundle configuration. Although several experimental studies have been conducted over the past decades, available datasets remain limited and often focus on simplified conductor arrangements. Wind tunnel testing therefore plays a key role in improving the characterization of iced conductors and supporting the development of more accurate galloping… Read more
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Estimation of Extreme Wind Speeds from Airport Anemometer Records and Comparison with Code-Based Design Values
This thesis aims to investigate the consistency between code-prescribed wind speeds and those derived from measured wind records. Read more
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Shaping the Flow: CFD Modeling of Louvered Envelopes for High-Rise Buildings
The use of louvers as building cladding offers a promising approach to actively modify the flow around high-rise structures. Through their directional effect, they can significantly influence the local flow topology and the overall aerodynamic response of the building. The aim of this work is to numerically investigate the aerodynamic impact of a louvered envelope on a square-prism high-rise building, employing homogenized models in OpenFOAM (OF) to reproduce the directional effects of the louvers. Numerical predictions will be validated through comparison with available experimental wind tunnel measurements. Required skills: The ideal candidate should have a solid background in fluid dynamics and a… Read more
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Multi-Objective Control Synthesis for Floating Wind Turbines
We are looking for a motivated and passionate student to contribute to our research in the field of wind energy and to work on a topic with strong scientific and industrial relevance. Floating wind turbines are complex systems, in which aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, structural dynamics, and control systems are strongly coupled. This multi-physics interaction makes the design of effective control strategies particularly challenging. In this context, turbine control must simultaneously address multiple objectives, including power regulation, fatigue load mitigation and overall system stability. This thesis focuses on the development of simplified dynamic models to support systematic control synthesis and on the… Read more
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CFD Modeling for peak pressure assessment on buildings
We are looking for a passionate student to contribute to our research in the field of Computational Wind Engineering. The selected candidate will work on exploring the feasibility of assessing the peak pressures experienced by buildings utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques. This research aims to explore the performance and costs associated to high-fidelity simulations for this relevant assessment under different wind conditions and with different numerical settings. Key Responsibilities: •CFD Simulations: Perform Large Eddy Simulations to analyze the peak pressures arising on buildings due to wind action, comparing the results with wind tunnel tests. Work will be mainly carried out in our High-Performance Computing cluster.… Read more
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Dynamics of an aerial cableway through a time-varying meshing finite element approach
Ropeways have been used intensively for transportation of goods and people since the early nineteenth century. To study the nonlinear effects of the forces acting on the carrying cable, and how they affect the static and dynamic behaviour of the plant, a finite element model with a time-varying mesh has been developed. The system modelling is based on two ropes (carrying and hauling), describing a back-and-forth aerial ropeway to which a concentrated mass representing the cabin is added. An overview of the existing FE model is available here: https://rdcu.be/eYTs2 Aim of the thesis project The aim of the thesis work… Read more
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Dynamic Response of Slender Structures to Downbursts
Background and MotivationDownbursts are localized, intense downdrafts produced by convective storms that generate strong, transient, and highly non-uniform wind fields near the ground. Unlike synoptic winds, downbursts exhibit rapid temporal variation and complex spatial characteristics, posing a significant challenge to conventional wind engineering assumptions. Slender structures such as transmission towers, chimneys, masts, long-span bridges, and tall buildings are particularly vulnerable due to their flexibility and sensitivity to dynamic wind loads. Current design codes are largely based on stationary, boundary-layer wind models and may not adequately capture the structural response under downburst-type loading. A better understanding of the dynamic interaction between… Read more