Project Plan, Objective & Progress to Date
[Project Plan, Objective]
The proposed project aims at implementing an international collaboration on the development of large-scale and accurate analyses for strongly nonlinear fluid-structure interactions, the research theme of which is of latest frontiers and most importance in the field of ocean engineering, and also aims at nurturing younger researchers through this international collaboration. In this project, younger promising researchers who can be the leaders of next generation will be sent to internationally top-level universities in the world, specifically Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and Ecole Centrale de Nantes in France (ECN), where dispatched younger researchers are expected to be inspired and enhanced through high-level interactions with other capable researchers. To conduct this project effectively, three relevant universities (Osaka University, Kobe University, and Osaka Prefecture University), the members of “Kansai Maritime Education & Research Alliance” which are cooperating for the education of graduate students and leading the society of naval architecture and ocean engineering, will cooperate further in supporting and encouraging younger researchers and in establishing an international organization of brain circulation and personal network.
For the genuine merger and simultaneous analysis of hydrodynamic and structural mechanics, we need to promote the research on frontier computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods and fast, accurate, and large-scale structural analysis methods. Once the desired fluid-structure interaction analyses are made applicable, we will be able to predict quantitatively the natural disaster, such as damage of offshore and onshore structures due to strongly nonlinear large-amplitude waves in violent typhoon or huge tsunami.
[Progress to Date]
1) Development and application of CFD methods for strongly nonlinear wave-body interactions
2) Large-scale, accurate and fast computations for genuine fluid-structure interactions
3) Prediction of nonlinear behavior of long elastic cables, reduction of vortex-induced vibration (VIV) and their applications
In order to start an international collaboration on the above research themes and to set up comfortable circumstance for the research at staying universities, the coordinator of this program, Prof. Kashiwagi, has visited with two younger researchers (Mr. Kazuki Ikushima and Dr. Hidetaka Senga) NTNU in Trondheim, Norway, in December of 2012, and met with Prof. Moan, Prof. Larsen and Prof. Faltinsen for explaining the details of the project, exchanging related information, and making preliminary arrangement for the collaboration. Furthermore, another two younger researchers (Dr. Hirotada Hashimoto and Dr. Kazuhiro Iijima) visited ECN in Nantes, France, in December of 2012 to see the living environment and research facilities at ECN and to make preliminary arrangement for the joint research with Prof. Ferrant and Prof. Touze.
After those arrangements, Mr. Kazuki Ikushima (D2 student of Osaka Prefecture University) was dispatched to NTNU in February of 2013, and Dr. Hirotada Hashimoto (Assistant Professor of Osaka University) was dispatched to ECN in March of 2013. Furthermore, the preparation is in progress without a hitch for dispatching Dr. Kazuhiro Iijima (Associate Professor of Osaka University) to ECN from April of 2013 and Dr. Hidetaka Senga (Assistant Professor of Osaka University) to NTNU from November of 2013.
What’s Brain Circulation Program?
JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) initiated the program of “
Strategic Young Researcher Overseas Visits for Accelerating Brain Circulation” (Brain Circulation Program, in short) in order for Japanese younger researchers to be exposed to internationally top-level joint research, then to expand opportunities of challenging various latest frontiers of research, and to strengthen the research network with leading universities and research institutes in the world. This is one of the international collaboration programs provided by JSPS, supporting financially the travel and research expenses for promising young researchers who are going to participate in an international joint research. The ultimate objective of this program is to promote science in Japan through making international brain circulation vigorous and nurturing capable researchers as the leaders of next generation.
