Development of lattice Boltzmann method on modelling nearshore waves and sediment transport - NERC GW4+ DTP PhD project

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the NERC GW4+ DTP. The GW4+ DTP consists of the Great Western Four alliance of the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University and the University of Exeter plus six Research Organisation partners. The partnership aims to provide a broad training in earth and environmental sciences, designed to train tomorrow’s leaders in earth and environmental science. For further details about the programme, please see http://nercgw4plus.ac.uk/.

Background

In past two decades, there have be seen an increasing development of the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), which is an efficient alternative and mesoscopic method between the molecular dynamics method and the conventional numerical methods.

The LBM simulates fluid flows by tracking the evolution of the particle distribution function, and then accumulates the distribution to obtain macroscopic averaged properties, which significantly increases the efficiency in dealing with the non-linear terms in fluid flow and wave equations over the conventional numerical methods.

The LBW has been widely applied to the fluid flow and coastal related problems. However, there still exist gaps in applying the LBM to the coastal hydrodynamic and mophodynamic processes under combined the wave and current conditions, particularly in dealing with extreme events and breaking waves, and the resulting morphological evolution.

Project aims and methods

The project aims to develop the LBM further for the coastal waters which can be applied to the model the complex coastal hydrodynamics and morphodynamics.

The model developments will include the following areas:

- implementing new methodology in LBM by increasing the particle movement directions
- improving the shock capture in dealing with steep slope process for the breaking waves
- applying the newly improved on the fluvial flow with steep slopes for flood predictions
- applying the model to cases under the current-wave combined conditions with the presence of breakwater schemes
- applying the model on the extreme waves with focuses on dealing with breaking waves
- examining the impact of the breaking waves on sediment transport and morphological evolution.


Candidate

The project would suit a student with a first or 2.1 degree in Mathematics, Physics and Engineering disciplines and an interest in developing the numerical modelling skills in coastal engineering and the related subjects.

Case award

This is a potential CASE award and the details are to be confirmed.

Training

You will receive training in numerical skills in hydrodynamics, morphodynamics as well as the numerical modelling skills through the in-house training courses provided by the University, and gain research experience and collaborations through regular meetings/workshops in the school and within GW+ programmes, as well as national and international conferences such as:

- UK Young Coastal Scientist and Engineering Conference
- International Conference on Coastal Engineering (ICCE)
- Coastal Dynamics
- IAHR Congress.

Previous PhD graduates have gone on to successful careers in academia, international consulting companies and governmental agencies.