PhD Research Studentships
Aerodynamic Effects of Precipitation Impact-Induced Damage on Wind Turbine Blades
| Supervisors: | Kshitij SABNIS and Nikos BEMPEDELIS |
| Apply by: | 28 January 2026 |
| Start in: | September (Semester 1) |
Description
During typical operation, wind turbines are often subject to harsh weather conditions featuring rain, hail and ice. When droplets of precipitation impact the blades of a wind turbine, they can damage to the blade surfaces. As a result, the performance of the wind turbine can degrade considerably through its lifetime, which negatively impacts the overall energy generation capability (reductions of up to 25% in annual energy production). There has recently been substantial research activity into defining the topologies of surface erosion caused by droplet impact. However, the corresponding influence of the surface damage on the aerodynamic performance of the blades remains poorly understood. For example, there is an incomplete understanding of how the spatial distribution of damage and the geometric characteristics of impact sites influence the flow development around the blade and, in turn, the aerodynamic forces that the blade experiences. Such physical insight is crucial to be able to apply protection systems or novel self-healing devices to the most appropriate sections of a turbine blade to realise maximal benefits. The knowledge gap is most prominent for vertical-axis wind-turbines where the blades are subject to a complex unsteady motion, often featuring stall behaviour that is likely impacted by any surface damage.
The PhD project will address this gap in knowledge using high-quality wind tunnel experiments using a rig designed to replicate the flow over a wind-turbine blade. A range of surface textures representative of impact damage in different regions of the turbine blades will be additively manufactured and carefully characterised. The impact of damage distribution and geometry will be studied for both a stationary blade (corresponding to a horizontal-axis turbine) and a pitching-heaving blade (representative of a vertical-axis turbine), with a particular focus on how the damage characteristics influence stall behaviour. The collected measurements will form a valuable reference data set for the validation of computational methods that are used in industrial design workflows. In this way, the project will constitute a key step towards improving the performance of renewable energy systems.
As part of this PhD project, the successful candidate will conduct wind tunnel experiments on a dedicated turbine rig using a range of traditional and innovative optical techniques, including photogrammetry and particle image velocimetry. By conducting novel experiments and analysing measurements, the PhD student will gain key skills in state-of-the-art wind tunnel testing and low-speed aerodynamics. The ideal candidate will be of an Engineering or Physics background and will have relevant experience in fluid mechanics or aerodynamics. As part of this project, candidates will benefit from close collaboration with world-leading academic and industrial research partners.
Funding
Funded by: China Scholarship CouncilCandidate will need to secure a CSC scholarship.
Under the scheme, Queen Mary will provide scholarships to cover all tuition fees, whilst the CSC will provide living expenses and one return flight ticket to successful applicants.
Eligibility
- The minimum requirement for this studentship opportunity is a good honours degree (minimum 2(i) honours or equivalent) or MSc/MRes in a relevant discipline.
- If English is not your first language, you will require a valid English certificate equivalent to IELTS 6.5+ overall with a minimum score of minimum score of 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking).
- Candidates are expected to start in September (Semester 1).
Contact
For informal enquiries about this opportunity, please contact Kshitij SABNIS or Nikos BEMPEDELIS.
Apply
Start an application for this studentship and for entry onto the PhD Aerospace Engineering full-time programme (Semester 1 / September start):
Please be sure to quote the reference "SEMS-PHD-683" to associate your application with this studentship opportunity.
| SEMS Research Centre: | ||
| Keywords: | Aerospace Engineering, Energy Technologies, Engineering - Other, Fluid Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Thermodynamics |