Effects of flexible vegetation on oscillatory flow hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics at University of Aberdeen on FindAPhD.com

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Dr D Van der A, Dr Y Tanino Applications accepted all year round Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Aberdeen United Kingdom Civil Engineering Environmental Engineering Fluid Mechanics Marine Engineering Mechanical Engineering Offshore Engineering

About the Project

These projects are open to students worldwide, but have no funding attached. Therefore, the successful applicant will be expected to fund tuition fees at the relevant level (home or international) and any applicable additional research costs. Please consider this before applying.

Coastal vegetation such as seagrass protects against coastal erosion by attenuating wave energy and demobilising suspended sediments. It is also ecologically important, providing shelter, nutrients and nursery areas for a wide variety of marine species. Although substantial research has been done to understand hydrodynamic processes over vegetated beds in steady unidirectional flows, little work has been done on unsteady, wave-generated (oscillatory) flows, despite the prevalence of vegetation in many coastal environments. The PhD research project will study detailed hydrodynamic and sediment dynamic processes under oscillatory flows over vegetated beds. Experiments will be conducted in the Aberdeen Oscillatory Flow Tunnel (AOFT), a unique research facility capable of generating oscillatory flows with periods and amplitudes equivalent to storm-scale wave conditions. The experiments will involve a range of oscillatory flow conditions and different varieties of flexible artificial vegetation canopies to systematically study the effects of vegetation on the above- and within-canopy hydrodynamics, turbulence and sediment dynamics. Measurements will be made using advanced optical and acoustic measurement techniques (e.g. LDA, PIV, ADVP). Insights and data from the new measurements will be used to develop practical models for predicting wave-driven hydrodynamics and sediment transport for vegetated sea beds.

The successful candidate will be based in the Fluid Mechanics Research Group in the School of Engineering. Members of the Group use different combinations of laboratory experiments, field measurements, numerical simulations, and theoretical analysis to study physical processes associated with a wide range of applications, including coastal erosion, wind energy, and drug delivery to tumours.

Essential Background:

Decisions will be based on academic merit. The successful applicant should have, or expect to obtain, a UK Honours Degree at 2.1 (or equivalent) in Civil, Environmental, or Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline that includes fluid mechanics will provide the essential knowledge.

Desirable knowledge:.

Prior knowledge of the following would be beneficial but is not essential: sea wave mechanics; coastal engineering; hydraulics; sediment transport; laboratory measurements in fluid mechanics.

Application Procedure:

Formal applications can be completed online: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/pgap/login.php

You should apply for Engineering (PhD) to ensure your application is passed to the correct team for processing.

Please clearly note the name of the lead supervisor and project title on the application form. If you do not include these details, it may not be considered for the studentship.

Your application must include: A personal statement, an up-to-date copy of your academic CV, and clear copies of your educational certificates and transcripts.

Please note: you DO NOT need to provide a research proposal with this application.

If you require any additional assistance in submitting your application or have any queries about the application process, please don't hesitate to contact us at [Email Address Removed]

Funding Notes

This is a self-funding project open to students worldwide. Our typical start dates for this programme are February or October.

Fees for this programme can be found here Finance and Funding | Study Here | The University of Aberdeen (abdn.ac.uk)

Additional research costs / bench fees may also apply and will be discussed prior to any offer being made.

References

Neshamar, O., van der A, D.A., O’Donoghue, T. (2022). Flow-induced vibration of a cantilever cylinder in oscillatory flow at high KC. Journal of Fluids and Structures, 109, 103476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfluidstructs.2021.103476
Neshamar, O., Jacobsen, N.G., van der A, D.A., O’Donoghue, T. (2023). Linear and nonlinear frequency-domain modelling of oscillatory flow over submerged canopies. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 61(5), pp. 668–685. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2023.2231433
Tanino, Y., Nepf, H. (2008). Lateral dispersion in random cylinder arrays at high Reynolds number. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 600, 339-371. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022112008000505
Tanino, Y., Nepf, H. (2008). Laboratory investigation of mean drag in a random array of rigid, emergent cylinders. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 134, 34-41 https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(2008)134:1(34) .

Where will I study?

University of Aberdeen

The University of Aberdeen is where great minds come together. Founded in 1495, The University of Aberdeen is the fifth oldest university in the UK, and boasts over 500 years of research and teaching excellence. Home to a thriving community of over 14,000 students from more than 130 different countries, the university has been awarded the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize on two occasions, and our researchers have won five Nobel Prizes across chemistry, physics, medicine, and nutrition. The University of Aberdeen is ranked 12th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2025, and 15th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.