PHD Position Full-scale Wind

Page contents 23 Jun 2026 Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) Research Field Engineering » Maritime engineering Engineering » Mechanical engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 13 Aug :59 (UTC) Country Netherlands Type of Contract Permanent Job Status Not Applicable Hours Per Week 38.0 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No Offer Description Full Scale Wind over Deck Measurements Job description For the efficient and safe deployment of flying (marine) drones, Ship-Unmanned Aircraft System Operational Limitations (SHUASOL) must be determined. These SHUASOLs are strongly influenced by the wind field above the helideck and around ships. These wind fields are simulated on model scale as standard. For helicopters, the real limits are then determined by a test flight by an experienced test pilot. For small flying drones, these test flights are more challenging since gusts of wind have a greater impact on them. In addition, the goal is to allow drones to fly autonomously without interference from test pilots. That is why knowledge of the real wind fields around a ship and the validation of simulations of these wind fields is extra important. In this PhD project, you will design and perform full-scale imaging measurements (particle/bubble tracking velocimetry) of the wind field at the landing deck of a marine vessel. The main goal will be to analyse the full-scale wind field, and particularly the structure and magnitude of wind gusts, relevant to flying drone operations at sea and assess how well model-scale measurements and existing numerical simulations can match these measurements. Additionally you will explore the limitations of such techniques in full-scale conditions, with respect to measurement volumes and resolution, as well ...