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A Numerical Analysis of Water Flow past an Airfoil through 180° Angle of Attack

Marta Careddu

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Marta Careddu

After completing my Degree in Civil Engineering at City University in London I have begun to ponder upon my role as a civil engineer. My original choice of the degree stemmed from my early interest in natural sciences, namely mathematics, physics and chemistry, combined with a fascination for design and planning. Since scientific high-school I have undertaken projects within all these disciplines and, through my engineering studies, clear career objectives have emerged.

During my engineering study, I had the opportunity to be exposed to the full range of civil engineering courses, all of which have reinforced my interest in the discipline, while helping me to identify my preferred fields of study.

My final year project, awarded the Noble Denton Prize for best thesis, has been very influential, it involved the numerical analysis of water flow past two hydrofoils using StarCD, a Computational Fluid Dynamics software. The numerical method (Finite Volume Method) used for the analysis is one of 3 most common standard techniques (Finite Difference Method, Finite Volume Method, Finite Element Method), all of which are mesh-based. Some limitations of these methods are associated with use and generation of mesh. The major difficulties are encountered when dealing with problems involving large distortions, free surfaces and deformable boundaries. All the latter limit their applications in many complex problems, therefore there is an increasing need for new numerical methods.

The research I am currently carrying out involves the development of a mesh-free method capable of overcoming the aforementioned limitations. This can be achieved by providing accurate numerical solutions for all kinds of complex phenomena, using a set of arbitrarily distributed nodes without using any mesh. In particular, the research aims to develop a new method for analysing complex phenomena involving soils, structures as well as fluid flows (for example a buoyant body with mooring cables attached to the sea bed).

I enjoy dealing with and finding creative solutions for complex problems, as well as applying intellectual and technological resources to significant research issues. There is an exciting, active community of academics in these fields at City University (some of whom have been my inspiring lecturers), I loved joining them and be part of their group. Further, I feel an overwhelming satisfaction in knowing that my work might influence the next generation of technology while still on the drawing board, and ultimately having an opportunity to contribute to scientific progress and to further my academic career.

Studi

  • Laurea in
    conseguita presso The City University, London nell'anno 2004-
    con una votazione di 110 e lode
  • Diploma di maturità conseguito presso il Liceo scientifico
    con votazione 48/60°

Esperienze lavorative

  • Dal 2004 lavora presso The City University, London nel settore Ricerca e sviluppo
    Mansione: PhD Student

    Commento personale: Dottorato di Ricerca presso The City University (London). La ricerca mira a sviluppare un metodo numerico meshless (ovvero che non richiede generazione di griglie computazionali) per l'analisi di fenomeni fisici riguardanti l'interazione fluido-struttura-suolo.

Lingue straniere

  • Inglese parlato e scritto: ottimo
  • Spagnolo parlato e scritto: buono

Conoscenze informatiche

  • Livello buono