PhD in Aeronautical Engineering

Injecting air beneath a ship’s hull offers significant drag reduction and fuel savings, but current systems perform best on flat geometries. This project addresses the open question of how hull curvature influences air-layer dynamics and stability. This project experimentally investigates the flow dynamics and stability of air layers over curved surfaces representing realistic ship hull geometries. You will conduct experiments using the water channel facilities in the Experimental Fluids Labs at the Boldrewood Innovation Campus and there is scope to explore this problem in the 138 m Boldrewood Towing Tank. Specifically, you will: characterise air layer formation, stability, and flow reattachment/detachment dynamics on curved model surfaces under controlled flow conditions; quantify the influence of surface curvature on air layer behaviour using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), high-speed imaging, and laser-based diagnostics; investigate air distribution and layer breakdown under varying flow speeds and pressures representative of realistic maritime conditions. You will join a research team in experimental fluid mechanics and maritime engineering at the University of Southampton, Boldrewood Innovation Campus, Southampton, United Kingdom.