Silent piling for offshore wind turbines

Supervisory team: Dr Benjamin Cerfontaine, Dr Jamie Crispin and Prof. Dave White

You will develop a novel predictive model for the 'silent' installation of open-ended piles for offshore wind turbine foundations, through advanced physical and numerical modelling. You will improve the fundamental understanding of pile installation, while developing practical tools for the offshore industry, accelerating the path to a carbon-neutral world.

Open-ended pile (impact) driving is the most used installation method for the foundations of offshore wind turbines. Tens of thousands of piles must be installed across the world to achieve carbon neutrality by the end of 2050. However, as restrictions on underwater noise emissions become more stringent to limit adverse effects on marine fauna, new ‘silent’ installation methods must be developed for the offshore wind industry, such as pile jacking. The response of jacked piles during and after installation is strongly dependent on their plugging behaviour, i.e. the formation of a soil column inside the pile that prevents soil ingress during their installation. A smaller plug length increases the pile bearing resistance but also makes them more difficult to install.

The goal of this project is to develop an accurate predictive model for jacked pile plugging. You will investigate the fundamental pile plugging behaviour through advanced physical modelling (geotechnical centrifuge testing) in our National Infrastructure Laboratory. You will compare the results with advanced numerical modelling (Discrete Element Method) to extend your database of results and will develop a novel mechanism-based predictive model.

This project can have a large impact on industry practice, while also improving our fundamental understanding of pile foundations. You will have many opportunities to expand your network, both in academia and industry, through project meetings, workshops, and conferences. You will be embedded within a professional network addressing ocean challenges and decarbonisation as part of the Southampton Marine & Maritime Institute (SMMI).

Entry requirements:

High 2:1 or first class degree or its international equivalent.

Who are we looking for?

• a highly motivated and self-directed individual with a strong foundation in geotechnical or civil engineering (essential)
• experience with soil mechanics, numerical modelling, and/or experimental testing (desirable)
• a passion for renewable energy and a desire to contribute to a sustainable future
• excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with supervisors, researchers, and industry partners

Fees and funding:

Full scholarships include tuition fees, a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate for up to 3.5 years (totalling £20,780 for 2025/26, rising annually). UK, EU and Horizon Europe students are eligible for scholarships. Chinese Scholarship Council funded students are eligible for fee waivers. Funding for other international applicants is very limited and highly competitive. Overseas students who have secured or are seeking external funding are welcome to apply. For more information, please visit our postgraduate research funding pages.

How to apply:

Apply now

You need to:

• choose programme type (Research), 2026/27, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
• select Full time or Part time
• search for programme PhD Engineering & the Environment (7175)
• add name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application

Applications should include:

• your CV (resumé)
• 2 academic references
• degree transcripts and certificates to date
• English language qualification (if applicable)