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2025-2026 / MECA0534-1

Fluid structures interactions of offshore environment

Duration

20h Th, 16h Pr, 12h Labo.

Number of credits

 Msc. in Mechanical Engineering, professional focus in materials and manufacturing5 crédits 
 Master Msc. in Mechanical engineering, professional focus in mechatronics5 crédits 
 Master MSc. in Mechanical Engineering, professional focus in sustainable automotive engineering5 crédits 
 Msc. in Mechanical Engineering, professional focus in Offshore Structure Modeling5 crédits 

Lecturer

Thomas Andrianne

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course explores the various Fluid-Structure Interactions (FSI) that occur in offshore structures, which are constantly exposed to wind, waves, and currents.

Because of their flexibility and complex geometries, these structures are prone to different FSI phenomena that must be carefully considered during the design phase to prevent structural failure.

The course introduces several types of instabilities-such as vortex-induced vibrations and galloping, both on single and multiple bodies-emphasizing their physical mechanisms and mathematical modeling.

Particular attention is given to the role of non-dimensional numbers governing these phenomena. The development of reduced-order models (linear and nonlinear) in both air and water flows is addressed, alongside experimental demonstrations and investigations carried out in the towing tank.

The course also covers the characterization of flows acting on offshore structures and examines FSI applications in offshore systems such as tubular jackets, risers, mooring systems, and floating wind turbines.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

- Grasp the physical mechanisms underlying different flow-induced instabilities.

- Develop appropriate reduced-order models to represent these instabilities.

- Conduct experimental measurements in wind tunnel and towing tank facilities to investigate FSI.

- Apply the acquired knowledge to the design of structural components in offshore equipment.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

To efficiently follow this course, it is important to have good knowledge in fluid mechanics, structural dynamics and mathematics.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The learning activities are divided into:

- Lectures on the physics and modeling of the phenomena

- Practical sessions focused on programming FSI models in Matlab/Python

- Laboratory sessions in the Wind Tunnel and Towing Tank

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Further information:

Face-to-face course given in English only

Lectures are mainly theoretical but can include exercise sessions.

The course is organized during the first semester over 13 weeks including: 4 lectures, 4 lab sessions, 2 computer sessions and 3 project sessions.

The planning of the course is presented during the first lecture. Room and timing can be found on CELCAT

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Lecture notes and other teaching material is share with student via eCampus.

The recommended textbook is : 

"Fluid-Structure Interactions : Cross-flow-induced instabilities"

M.P. Païdoussis, S.J. Price and E. de Langre

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam

Written work / report


Further information:

Exam(s) in session

Any session : In-person oral exam (open-ended questions)


Evaluation during the year

Lab reports from wind tunnel and towing tank

Project presentation

 

Finale grade 

The final grade is obtained from three contributions:

- Oral exam (theory): 50% 

- Project: 30% (based on oral presentation) 

- Lab reports: 20% (based on a written report) 


The submission of project and lab reports are mandatory prerequisites for participation to the exam in both the 1st (January) and 2nd session (August-September). The grade obtained for the project and the lab reports are communicated for the 2nd session.

Students are thus strongly advised to put sufficient effort into the project. 

The oral exam is a closed-book exam. However, students are allowed to take a self-made handwritten summary of 12 one-sided pages. 

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Contacts

Prof. Thomas ANDRIANNE - Aeroelasticity and Experimental Aerodynamics ; t.andrianne@uliege.behttps://www.wind-tunnel.uliege.be 

Students are encouraged to actively interact with the instructors, also outside of the lectures. It is recommended to set up an appointment first.

Association of one or more MOOCs