Marine structures research

Marine structures research

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Illustrasjon: Bjarne Stenberg

Marine Structures

The Marine Structures group covers both marine structures and marine hydrodynamics. 

The research spans in a wide range of topics, from fundamental research within hydrodynamics and structure mechanics, as well as fluid-structure interactions, to applied research directed towards the Norwegian and European maritime industry and fisheries, including fish farming.

Where the forces are analyzed

Examples on applied research includes both optimization, efficiency and safety of ships and numerous types of marine structures like wind turbines, floating solar panels, subsea cables and cords, as well as coastal flows and infrastructure.

Since the research is directed towards ocean activities where waves are a driving factor, stochastic theory applied on wave loads and structural response is an important research area. 

Both physical experiments, including laboratory measurements and full-scale field measurements, and numerical simulations are conducted in order to obtain new knowledge. In addition to the laboratory facilities owned by the department, we also utilize laboratories operated by Sintef Ocean whenever feasible. 

The laboratories include ocean basins, wave flumes, towing tank, as well as laboratories for testing structural loads and deformations. We also utilize the national High Performance Computing facilities for heavy duty numerical simulations.
 

Projects of the Marine Structures research group

Projects of the Marine Structures research group

All of the projects of the Marine Structures research group involve collaboration- between different NTNU departments and faculties, between NTNU and national and international industry partners, and between NTNU and national and international universities.

We have managed one Centre of Excellence 2002-2012 (CeSOS) and are managing a new Centre of Excellence 2013-2023 (AMOS).

In addition, there are several industry-collaboration projects (KMB, UTC, BIP), and some EU-funded projects.

Projects managed by the Marine Structures group:

  • KMB "D2V: Design and Verification of Control Systems for Safe and Energy-efficient Vessels with Hybrid Power Plants" (2011-2016): MAROFF KMB project with 5 Professors, 5 PhDs, and partners Kongsberg Maritime and DNV. Manager: Prof. A.J. Sørensen. Tot. budget 17 MNOK.
  • EU FP7 MARINA Platform (2010-): A pan-European project to bring offshore renewable energy applications closer to market by creating new infrastructures for both offshore wind and ocean energy converters. Lead by Prof. T. Moan. Budget Marine Struct. group: ~15 MNOK funded 75% by EU.
  • EU Marie-Curie MARE-WINT (2012-2016): The "New MAterials and REliability in offshore WINd Turbines technology" is an Initial Training Network project under the Marie Curie Actions. Lead by Prof. T. Moan. Budget Marine Struct. group: ~2.5 MNOK funded 100% by EU.
  • Era-Net Martec HyDynPro (2012-): Tot. budget (Norwegian partners) 8 573 kNOK. NTNU 2813 kNOK. Lead by Prof. S. Steen.
  • JIP MIT-NTNU-Statoil Wind Turbines (2009-2016): Budget Marine Struct. group: ~4.5 MNOK.
  • FRIPRO "Air-Sea Interaction and Transport Mechanisms in the Ocean" (2013-2016): FRINATEK project with 1 researcher, 1 post-doc, and 1 PhD candidate. Key scientists: Researcher L. E. Holmedal and Prof. D. Myrhaug.
  • BIP Gunnerus Full-scale (2013-2016): Innovation project on upgrading the NTNU research vessel Gunnerus with new thruster prototypes. Leadership: Rolls Royce Marine.

External projects with active participation from the Marine Structures group:

  • FME NOWITECH (2009-2017): Research center laying foundation for industrial value creation and cost-effective solutions for offshore wind farms. Prof. T. Moan is lead of WP3 "Novel support structures and floaters". Host: SINTEF Energy Research.
  • SFI SAMCoT (2011-2019): Center for research-based innovation on Arctic marine technology and operations. Prof. R. Skjetne is co-lead of WP5 "Ice Management" and Prof. J. Amdahl is co -lead of WP4 "Floating structures in ice". Leadership: NTNU Marine Civil Engineering group.
  • SFI CREATE (2007-2015): Center for research-based innovation on technology, operation, and process knowledge related to fish-farming. Prof. O.M. Faltinsen is involved as key researcher. Leadership: SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture.
  • KMB LEEDS (2013-2016): MAROFF KMB project with 3 PhD candidates in the Marine Structures research group. Leadership: Marine Systems research group at the Department of Marine Technology.
  • KPN SimVal (2013-2016): MAROFF KPN project on "Sea Trials and Model Tests for Validation of Shiphandling Simulation Models". Leadership: MARINTEK.
  • KPN PropScale (2013-2016): MAROFF KPN project on "Scale effects and powering prediction of complex propulsion units", with 1 PhD in the Marine Structures research group. Leadership: MARINTEK.
  • EU H2020 HYDRALAB+ (2015-2019): The project is an advanced network of environmental hydraulic institutes in Europe. It opens it facilities for transnational access and will prepare environmental hydraulic modelling for the upcoming technical challenges associated with adaptations for climate change. A multi-disciplinary approach is essential to meet these challenges. NTNU offers its Sletvik field station and the Bay of Hopavågen for ecohydraulic experiments. NTNU has a budget of 4 150 kNOK. Prof. D. Myrhaug participates from the group.​
  • JIP "Stress and fatigue analysis of umbilicals and cables – Phase III" (2013-2016): Multiclient industrial project with partners 4 oil companies, 6 vendors, and 1 consultancy company. Budget appr. 16 MNOK. Leadership: MARINTEK.
  • JIP "DROPS: Dynamic Response of Offshore Pipelines on the Seabed" (2015-2017): Multiclient industrial project on riser response and erosion on seabed. Possibly associated with AMOS PhDs/Post-docs. Leadership: MARINTEK.