PhD Studentship: CFD-DEM Optimisation of Porous Breakwater Design and Placement for Enhanced Flood Mitigation Newcastle University in United Kingdom

[100% fees covered and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate). Additional project costs provided. Full studentship for home and international applicants.] This fully funded PhD studentship at Newcastle University focuses on the optimisation of porous breakwater design and placement using advanced CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and DEM (Discrete Element Method) modelling for enhanced flood mitigation in coastal environments. Coastal flooding is a growing global threat, exacerbated by climate change and rising sea levels, and traditional coastal defences can be both costly and ecologically disruptive.

Porous breakwaters (PBs) present a promising alternative, offering effective wave energy dissipation and controlled overtopping, which can reduce flood risk while minimising environmental impact. The project aims to develop and apply high-fidelity CFD-DEM simulations to understand how varying porosity, core material characteristics, and breakwater geometry affect wave overtopping rates and flood extents under different storm surge scenarios. It will also investigate the optimal spatial arrangement of PBs—such as single or multiple lines and angles of incidence—tailored to specific coastline morphologies and flood hazard profiles, using coupled CFD and inundation modelling.

The research will balance flood reduction effectiveness with structural stability and ecological benefits, including potential habitat creation. The project will consider metamaterials of various shapes, materials, and textures, modelling their interactions with waves to inform practical design and placement solutions. The studentship is sponsored by the Natural Environment Research Council and offers 100% coverage of tuition fees, a minimum annual tax-free living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate), and additional project costs. Both home and international applicants (including EU) are eligible for the full studentship.

Applicants must hold, or expect to obtain, at least a 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant subject (such as computing, mathematics, engineering), and demonstrate enthusiasm for research, independent thinking, strong analytical skills, and excellent communication abilities. Non-native English speakers require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all sub-skills), and international applicants may need ATAS clearance. The position starts on 1st October 2026 and lasts 3.5 years. Interested candidates should apply via the Newcastle University funding portal and may attend a prospective applicant webinar for further information.

For queries, contact Dr Amir Fard at [email protected].