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Dr Alessandro Leonardi,
Dr Elisabeth Bowman
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
Sheffield
United Kingdom
Civil Engineering
Fluid Mechanics
Geotechnical Engineering
Marine Engineering
Marine Geology
Offshore Engineering
About the Project
This PhD project investigates strategies to protect underwater infrastructure, such as subsea power cables, from the impacts of submarine landslides—a growing concern as the UK expands its offshore wind capacity. Submarine landslides, which displace large volumes of sediment across the seafloor, pose serious risks to subsea cables, often causing costly damage and service disruptions.
By using a geotechnical centrifuge—a specialised testing setup that replicates gravitational forces at scale—this project will recreate landslide impacts in a controlled environment to assess how different types of flows affect cable resilience.
The research will focus on two primary flow types, cohesive and granular, each representing different real-world landslide behaviours and presenting unique challenges for subsea infrastructure. Cohesive flows, typically denser and slower, exert sustained pressures, while granular flows, more dynamic, deliver high-energy impacts. By experimentally modelling these scenarios, this study aims to understand the fundamental behiour, which inform the design of infrastructure better suited to varied seabed conditions. In doing so, it will address essential knowledge gaps and support the renewable energy and energy security goals of the UK.
Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact the project supervisors to discuss your interest in and suitability for the project prior to submitting your application.
Please refer to the EPSRC DLA webpage for detailed information about the EPSRC DLA and how to apply.
Funding Notes
The award will fund the full (UK or Overseas) tuition fee and UKRI stipend (currently £19,237 per annum) for 3.5 years, as well as a £4,500 research grant to support costs associated with the project.
References
(1)Guo, X., Liu, X., Zhang, H., Li, M., & Luo, Q. (2022). Evaluation of instantaneous impact forces on fixed pipelines from submarine slumps. Landslides, 19(12), 2889-2903.
(2)Zakeri, A., Høeg, K., & Nadim, F. (2009). Submarine debris flow impact on pipelines—Part II: Numerical analysis. Coastal engineering, 56(1), 1-10.
(3)Rui, Y., & Yin, M. (2019). Centrifuge Study on the Submarine Mudflows. Marine Geodesy, 42(1), 85-102.
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